Which of the following groups was MOST harmed by U.S. independence from Great Britain?
A.
women
B.
poor farmers
C.
American veterans
D.
land-owning males
To determine which group was most harmed by U.S. independence from Great Britain, we need to evaluate the impact on each of the given groups:
A. Women: While the status and rights of women did not significantly improve with U.S. independence, it can be argued that they were not specifically harmed as a group. However, women's rights and opportunities remained limited during this time.
B. Poor Farmers: Poor farmers were adversely affected by various factors after U.S. independence. Many farmers faced economic hardships due to the disruption of trade with Great Britain, loss of protection from British laws, and heavy debts incurred during the American Revolutionary War.
C. American Veterans: American veterans may have faced challenges in terms of employment opportunities and financial stability after the war. However, the government did make efforts to provide land grants and pensions to help veterans transition into civilian life.
D. Land-owning Males: While land-owning males played a prominent role in American society and politics, they were not significantly harmed by U.S. independence. In fact, independence granted them greater political power and opportunities for economic prosperity.
Considering these factors, the group most likely to have been harmed the most by U.S. independence from Great Britain is B. Poor farmers. They experienced economic difficulties and were left vulnerable due to the disruption of trade, loss of protection, and war-related debts.