Answer:
The Roman pull-out from Britain
Explanation:
When the Romans left Britain, various groups of people started infighting over supremacy on the islands. The anglo-saxons used this to completely conquer the land which was an easy job for them considering how advanced their warriors were compared to the locals. Normans actually ended anglo-saxon rule much later. Credit to Greenleafable for this answer and explanation btw.
The last description makes the most sense, as to how the wording "mob" and "populace" imply them as behaving as group. Called social group psychology, many people "join the crowd" when it comes to supporting or opposing certain events, causes, or acts.
The answer would be the first option:
<span>This word choice shows that Thurber approves of the decision.</span>
