Why is it important to know that the colonists were landowners?

A. The Indians were taking over more and more land.

B. The more land they owned, the more they could grow and become self-reliant.

C. They were now able to vote and have a voice in their government, gaining them political status.

D. New settlers were coming in and trying to take their land.

E. Other countries were sending in people to claim land for their country

The colonists became landowners and gained political status. The colonists had come from nations (mostly England) where people had almost no chance of gaining land of their own. Political status in England was tied to landownership. As colonists acquired land in America, they were able to vote and have a voice in their government, gaining them political status. Colonists were able to participate in the government, rather than being subjected to an aristocracy. Many more citizens in the colonies had voting rights than the average citizen of England. Colonists became very concerned about the idea of property rights, and it became important to colonists to protect their own property, as well as their neighbors’, from potential government interference. In addition, protection of property rights encouraged free enterprise. The colonists were free to work the land and begin businesses without fear of the government seizing the results of their labor.