Final answer:
The early nineteenth century witnessed the expansion of voting rights for white men with the abolition of property qualifications, but also a regression in rights for women and free Black individuals, with states disenfranchising these groups.
Step-by-step explanation:
The political developments occurring in America during the first two decades of the nineteenth century saw a significant change in voting rights, particularly for white males. The answer to which of the following describes the political developments taking place in America during this period is d) Ordinary white men's rising political status was accompanied by a decline in the political rights of women and free blacks.
During this era, there was an expansion of political rights for white men as many states abolished property qualifications for voting. By 1830, a number of states, including Ohio, New York, and others, granted universal white manhood suffrage. However, this increased inclusivity for white men saw simultaneous restrictions and regressions in the rights of other groups. Most notably, free Black people saw their voting rights curtailed as new states joining the Union explicitly denied them suffrage, and states like New York required them to own substantial property to qualify to vote. Furthermore, in New Jersey, women who had previously held the right to vote lost this right, signifying a clear setback for both African Americans and women in an age increasingly defined by white manhood suffrage.