Historians have long debated whether or not America was truly a “land of opportunity”. Although it advertised freedom of religion, many other rights were denied; particularly the rights of those in the lower class. The high tax rates had an immense affect on the poor. Indentured servants faced a higher obstacle; it was nearly impossible to escape from their life. Furthermore, the lower class’ efforts to succeed were stifled by the powerful upper class.
Many colonists raved about the pay that was “three times the wages for their labor in England or Wales.”(Document 2) This was very deceiving to newcomers because even though the rates were indeed higher, so were the t