Status in the Colonies Increase Essay Example
Status in the Colonies Increase Essay Example

Status in the Colonies Increase Essay Example

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  • Pages: 2 (282 words)
  • Published: September 2, 2018
  • Type: Essay
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Throughout history, the division between the wealthy and impoverished has persisted. Despite America's efforts to address this issue, it remains ingrained in human nature and resistant to change. From 1700 to 1750, wealth and social inequality continued to grow in the colonies. Once this gap began widening, it became challenging to modify due to the political system's structure (or lack thereof). The atrocities of war resulted in a group of widows and orphans who relied on charity for their survival.

The availability of unclaimed land decreased and families multiplied, resulting in the division of existing landholdings multiple times. By 1750, Boston had a considerable population of homeless poor individuals who depended on charity and were mandated to wear a conspicuous red "P" on their garments. The growth in wealth caused by the expanding slave population during the 18th centur

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y was unequally shared among white individuals. Most of the wealth was concentrated in the hands of the richest slave owners, thus exacerbating the gap between the prosperous upper class and the impoverished "poor whites".

In summary, during the years 1700-1750 in the colonies, there was a significant growth in the disparities of wealth and social status. The affluent individuals actively sought out ways to enhance their already elevated position. These opportunities occasionally offered the less privileged a chance to improve their circumstances to some extent. However, rather than progressing, the poor were compelled to depend on charity and government assistance provided through taxes. The inadequate social and political framework in colonial America ultimately facilitated the widening gap between the wealthy and the rest of society.

  1. Kennedy, David M. and Cohen, Lizabeth and Bailey,
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Thomas A. The American Pageant: Thirteenth Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006.

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