"He that will not work, shall not eat." Which problem of colonial America is John Smith addressing in this statement?

-Arriving colonists focused most of their time on finding gold.
-Indentured servants and slaves often rebelled against their unfair working conditions.
-Poor farmers in the Southern colonies could not afford to grow cash crops.
-The colonial free population was too small to fill all available jobs.

B??

Ms. Sue??

I also agree

I agree.

Yes, you are correct. John Smith's statement, "He that will not work, shall not eat," is addressing the problem of the colonial free population being too small to fill all available jobs. This statement suggests that those who refuse to work will not receive food, emphasizing the need for everyone to contribute to the labor force.

The problem that John Smith is addressing in his statement, "He that will not work, shall not eat," is the issue of arriving colonists focusing most of their time on finding gold.

In colonial America, many settlers traveled to the New World with the hope of striking it rich and finding gold. Instead of focusing on building sustainable communities and working the land, these colonists were primarily interested in searching for valuable minerals. However, this led to a neglect of other necessary tasks, such as cultivating crops and establishing permanent settlements.

John Smith's statement conveys his belief that those who were unwilling to contribute through productive work should not benefit from the efforts of others. He emphasized the importance of everyone working together for the survival and success of the colonies. By stating that those who do not work should not eat, Smith was encouraging a shift in priorities to ensure the colonies could become self-sufficient and sustainable.

Therefore, the correct answer to your question is not B, but A - "Arriving colonists focused most of their time on finding gold."