Most patriots understood that the concept of republicanism would

A) allow male citizens to fully participate in the political process.
B) promote the belief that all men, whether they were citizens or not, could run for office.
C) open up opportunities for women to have more political advantages.
D) never apply to people in other countries.

Republicanism, as understood by patriots during the era of its rise, emphasized the participation of male citizens in the political process, promoting civic virtue and active participation in governance. The concept did not inherently include political opportunities for women or non-citizens, nor was it considered exclusive to any single nation.