What conclusion is strengthened by reading revolutionary language about liberty alongside the continuation of the slave trade?

Correct answer: The ideals claimed universal value, but colonial profit restricted their application

The governing concept is the contradiction between revolutionary ideals and colonial practice. The French Revolution used the language of liberty, equality and rights, suggesting that these principles applied to human beings generally. Yet French colonial economies continued to depend heavily on enslaved labour and the profits of plantation production. This contrast does not make the ideals meaningless; instead, it reveals the limits imposed by property interests, racism and imperial profit. Option A is correct because it captures both sides: the language was universal in principle, while its implementation was restricted. B reverses the meaning of slavery, and C and D are historically inaccurate because emancipation and equal citizenship were not immediate or universal in the colonies.