How did access to the labor of enslaved people change the American colonial economy?

Question

A. It forced people to spend more on a permanent labor force.
B. It allowed the development of a consumer culture due to increased wealth.
C. It took away jobs from indentured servants.
D. It ensured that northern manufacturing jobs would always be available for white laborers.

Answer 1

The most accurate answer to how access to the labor of enslaved people changed the American colonial economy is:

B. It allowed the development of a consumer culture due to increased wealth.

Enslaved labor significantly contributed to the agricultural economy, particularly in the Southern colonies, by providing a large, cheap labor force for cash crops such as tobacco, rice, and cotton. This created significant wealth for slave owners and increased the overall economic productivity of the colonies. As wealth accumulated, it helped to foster a consumer culture among the colonial elite and contributed to the growth of markets and trade.