Final answer:
The false statement is "a. Most of the early African immigrants gained their freedom," as legal changes in the mid-17th century led to a permanent state of enslavement for African immigrants and their descendants, unlike European indentured servants.
Step-by-step explanation:
To identify the statement that is false among the options provided, we need to examine the historical context of African immigrants during the colonial history of America. The statement "a. Most of the early African immigrants gained their freedom" is false. Initially, some Africans did arrive in the Americas as indentured servants with the opportunity to earn their freedom after serving a set term. However, by the mid-17th century, legal changes made by colonies such as Virginia and Maryland began to solidify a permanent state of enslavement for African immigrants and their descendants, a situation which sharply contrasted with European indentured servitude. Slavery in the American colonies started for economic reasons and was integral to the development of plantation agriculture, particularly in the South. The conditions of slavery were indeed harsh, and it was particularly severe in the Deep South compared to other regions. It's also historically accurate that some slaves who obtained their freedom did become slave owners themselves.
In the context of colonial history, it's crucial to recognize that the experiences and legal status of early African immigrants significantly deteriorated over time, leading to a system of hereditary chattel slavery which was entrenched in the economic and legal fabric of colonial America.