Questions: Question What factor contributed to deepening class divisions in the American colonies? Select an Answer A. Colonial elites strove to emulate British aristocratic lifestyles while distancing themselves from their middling and lower-class countrymen. B. Increased access to land, particularly in New England, attracted new immigrants but exacerbated class distinctions. C. Most ordinary free families were unable to achieve economic autonomy. D. As the number of enslaved people multiplied in the colonies, the bottom end of the social scale expanded correspondingly.

The answer is A: Colonial elites strove to emulate British aristocratic lifestyles while distancing themselves from their middling and lower-class countrymen.

Explanation for each option:

A. Colonial elites strove to emulate British aristocratic lifestyles while distancing themselves from their middling and lower-class countrymen.

• This is the correct answer. The colonial elites in America often sought to replicate the lifestyles and social structures of the British aristocracy. This emulation included adopting British fashions, customs, and social practices, which created a distinct cultural and social gap between the elites and the lower classes. This behavior contributed significantly to deepening class divisions as the elites distanced themselves from the rest of the population.

B. Increased access to land, particularly in New England, attracted new immigrants but exacerbated class distinctions.

• This option is incorrect. While increased access to land did attract new immigrants, it generally provided opportunities for economic advancement and did not necessarily exacerbate class distinctions. In fact, in some regions, access to land allowed for greater social mobility.

C. Most ordinary free families were unable to achieve economic autonomy.

• This option is incorrect. While it is true that not all families achieved economic autonomy, many ordinary free families were able to own land and sustain themselves, particularly in the middle colonies and the frontier regions. The inability to achieve economic autonomy was not the primary factor deepening class divisions.

D. As the number of enslaved people multiplied in the colonies, the bottom end of the social scale expanded correspondingly.

• This option is incorrect. While the increase in the number of enslaved people did expand the lower end of the social scale, it primarily created a racial divide rather than a class divide among free colonists. The institution of slavery did contribute to social stratification, but the deepening class divisions among free colonists were more directly influenced by the behavior and aspirations of the colonial elites.