<P> A headright is a legal grant of land to settlers . Headrights are most notable for their role in the expansion of the thirteen British colonies in North America ; the Virginia Company of London gave headrights to settlers , and the Plymouth Company followed suit . The headright system was used in several colonies , including Maryland , Georgia , North Carolina and South Carolina . Most headrights were for 1 to 1,000 acres ( 4.0 km ) of land , and were given to anyone willing to cross the Atlantic Ocean and help populate the colonies . Headrights were granted to anyone who would pay for the transportation costs of a laborer or indentured servant . These land grants consisted of 50 acres ( 200,000 m ) for someone newly moving to the area and 100 acres ( 0.40 km ) for people previously living in the area . By giving the land to the landowning masters the indentured servants had little or no chance to procure their own land . This kept many colonials poor and led to strife between the poor servants and wealthy landowners . </P>
what was a result of the headright system on colonial society
kept many colonials poor and led to strife between the poor servants and wealthy landowners