Which of these federal positions is considered to be a stepping
stone for the presidency?
A Head of Homeland Security
B. Secretary of State
C. Francial Secretary

B. Secretary of State

Explanation:

The Office of the Secretary of State heads the Department of State which means that the holder is in charge of U.S. foreign policy. This position was traditionally seen as a stepping stone to the Presidency with Thomas Jefferson being the first Secretary and then becoming the third President.

Of recent however, Secretaries of State have not been very successful winning primaries( with the exception of Hillary Clinton in 2016) as parties seem to gravitate to those who have held democratic office but this position has however, produced 9 nominees for the Presidency since independence.

the protestant reformation's started in 1517, disturbing the religious and political order in europe´s catholic countries. the outcome was the european wars of religion prosecuted in europe in the 16th, 17th and part of the 18th century. nonetheless, uprisings, territorial disputes, and great power conflicts were also causes of the wars.  

the answer is b.2008 and 2012 were presidential election years.