Questions: In the first half of the seventeenth century, who made up the primary agricultural labor force in colonial North America? enslaved Africans Native Americans Europeans convicted political prisoners

The answer is C: Europeans.

Explanation for each option:

• Enslaved Africans: While enslaved Africans did become a significant part of the labor force in colonial North America, this was more prevalent in the latter half of the seventeenth century and into the eighteenth century. The transatlantic slave trade expanded significantly after 1650.

• Native Americans: Although Native Americans were sometimes used as laborers, they were not the primary agricultural labor force. Many Native American groups resisted European colonization and maintained their own ways of life, and their populations were also severely impacted by disease and conflict.

• Europeans: In the first half of the seventeenth century, the primary agricultural labor force consisted mainly of European settlers, including indentured servants. These were individuals who worked for a set number of years in exchange for passage to the New World and the promise of land or money at the end of their service.

• Convicted political prisoners: While some convicted political prisoners were sent to the colonies, they did not make up a significant portion of the agricultural labor force during this period. Their numbers were relatively small compared to indentured servants and other European settlers.