Simpe past or the past progressive

this question is not school related. refrain from asking non school or academic related questions in the future.

awnser:

over the two days of the convention, presided over by lucretia’s husband james mott, the declaration of sentiments was read and its resolutions debated. the ninth resolution continued to be the most controversial, particularly because the attendees were predominantly quaker, and quaker men often declined to vote. freed slave and newspaper editor frederick douglass argued for approval of the resolution and convinced the audience of its necessity. at the end of the convention, about 100 of the attendees signed the declaration, although some removed their names later due to criticism.