Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam

What was a key feature of the headright system in colonial America?

1. Granting land to anyone who paid taxes

2. Providing free land to Indigenous peoples

3. Granting 50 acres of land to anyone who brought over a certain number of colonists

4. Allocating land based on military service

The correct answer is: Granting 50 acres of land to anyone who brought over a certain number of colonists

The headright system was a significant policy in colonial America, particularly in Virginia and Maryland, designed to encourage the settlement and cultivation of land. One of its key features was that it granted 50 acres of land to settlers who brought over additional colonists to the New World. This incentive aimed to attract more people to the colonies, thus facilitating economic growth and development. Under the headright system, individuals could acquire these land grants by paying for the passage of new settlers. This created a direct correlation between the acquisition of land and the promotion of immigration, which was vital for the labor-intensive agricultural economy, especially in the cultivation of tobacco. The system effectively encouraged wealthy individuals to invest in the colonies by bringing indentured servants or even family members with them, as each additional person transported would increase their landholding and potential wealth. The other options listed do not accurately reflect the purpose or mechanics of the headright system. While taxes and service might have influenced land allocation in other contexts, they were not central to the headright system specifically, nor did it involve providing land to Indigenous peoples, as the system primarily served European settlers looking to expand colonial agriculture.