The middle class was the largest among white colonists primarily due to a combination of factors, including:
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Economic Opportunities: Many white colonists were able to acquire land and engage in agriculture or trade, which provided a pathway to economic stability. This access to land allowed for the development of a middle class that was independent and self-sufficient.
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Social Mobility: The colonial society often allowed for upward mobility. Hard work, entrepreneurship, and skill could lead to improved social status, allowing individuals and families to move into the middle class.
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Limited Lower Class: As you mentioned, there were relatively few people in the lower class, especially since the majority of the population consisted of landowning white men, who typically formed the middle class. While there were poor laborers and indentured servants, the overall structure of colonial society created a larger middle class compared to a lower class.
Overall, these factors contributed to a significant population of white colonists finding themselves in the middle class, shaping the social structure of colonial America.
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