What do paragraphs 1 and 2 most suggest about the old families of rank? Responses Before the nineteenth century, the families that ruled England did so fairly and with a sense of swift, if brutal, justice. Before the nineteenth century, the families that ruled England did so fairly and with a sense of swift, if brutal, justice., Even in the nineteenth century, being descended from a powerful family guaranteed one status and privilege in England. Even in the nineteenth century, being descended from a powerful family guaranteed one status and privilege in England. The people of the nineteenth century resented the continued domination of those families that had long had power in England. The people of the nineteenth century resented the continued domination of those families that had long had power in England. By the nineteenth century, some of the ancient English families had lost their power, wealth, and influence.