Final answer:
The major factor that determined whether a person was enslaved in the American colonies was their skin color.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major factor that determined whether a person was enslaved in the American colonies was their skin color. Slavery in the colonies was primarily based on race, with people of African descent being targeted for enslavement. Skin color became the defining characteristic for determining whether an individual would be enslaved or enjoy freedom in colonial America.
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