The position expressed in the excerpt most represented a continuity with which of the following earlier developments in the United States?

While the defense of African American voting rights was a significant issue during Reconstruction, it primarily focused on civil rights and federal enforcement rather than state sovereignty. This movement sought to expand federal power to protect individual rights, contrasting with the concept of state autonomy highlighted in the question.

Support for limited government economic intervention pertains to the broader ideological debates about the role of government in the economy, which does not specifically address the issue of state sovereignty versus federal authority. Although limited government is a theme in American political discourse, it does not directly reflect the continuity expressed in the excerpt.

Progressive reforms aimed at expanding democracy and addressing social issues often involved increasing federal and state powers to enact change. This focus on reform and intervention contrasts with the emphasis on state sovereignty found in the excerpt, making it less relevant as a continuity.

Populist movements were primarily concerned with economic issues and the influence of large corporations, advocating for reforms to limit monopolistic practices. While they engaged in political struggles, their focus was not directly aligned with the claims of state sovereignty against central political authority as emphasized in the excerpt.