Asked by Austin Henderson on May 11, 2024

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What statement accurately depicts the legal status of people of African descent in the Chesapeake prior to 1660?

A) Blacks had rights equal to those of whites.
B) Blacks were forbidden all access to the courts.
C) Blacks were already rigidly defined as enslaved people.
D) Blacks' rights were ambiguous, allowing some Africans to become landowners with servants or slaves.
E) It was law that only Africans and no English people could work in the tobacco fields.

Legal Status

An individual's or entity's standing under the law, determining their rights, responsibilities, and jurisdiction.

Landowners

Individuals or entities that hold legal ownership of land, possessing the rights to use, rent, sell, or develop the property as they see fit.

  • Examine singular experiences against the backdrop of colonial indenture and slavery.
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HC
Hailey ClarkMay 12, 2024
Final Answer :
D
Explanation :
Before 1660, the legal status of Africans in the Chesapeake was not yet firmly established, leading to a period where some Africans could own land and even have servants or slaves, reflecting the ambiguous nature of their rights during this time.