Which of the following statements about poverty in eighteenth-century English America is accurate?

A) The colonial attitudes about poverty mirrored the attitudes in England, with the rich tending to blame the poor.
B) In colonial cities, the income of propertyless wage earners steadily increased.
C) The idea of rural communities and cities providing assistance or work for the poor did not yet exist.
D) The refusal of Indian tribes to trade with colonists was a primary reason for the increase in poverty overall.
E) The gap between rich and poor decreased rapidly in the eighteenth century.

Colonial attitudes towards poverty were heavily influenced by English attitudes, which tended to blame the poor for their own situation. This can be seen in laws and policies that punished beggars and provided relief only for those who were “deserving” of help, such as the elderly and disabled. The other options are incorrect. B is not supported by historical evidence, as propertyless wage earners often struggled to make ends meet. C is also incorrect, as there were some efforts to provide assistance and work for the poor, although these were limited and often tied to religious organizations. D is not accurate, as Indian tribes were not responsible for the overall increase in poverty in colonial America. Finally, E is not true, as the gap between rich and poor actually widened during the eighteenth century.