Final answer:
The headright system was a land distribution system in colonial America that benefited wealthy planters and small farmers by granting them large land grants. It impacted both the beneficiaries and the laborers who were brought to the colonies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The headright system was a land distribution system in colonial America. It granted large land grants to individuals who paid for the transportation of laborers to the colony, such as indentured servants or enslaved people. The beneficiaries of the headright system were primarily wealthy planters and small farmers who acquired large amounts of land.
The headright system impacted a significant number of people. It benefited the plantation owners and farmers who received the land grants. However, it negatively impacted the laborers who were brought to the colonies as indentured servants or enslaved individuals, as they were forced to work under harsh conditions.
Overall, the headright system had a profound impact on the social and economic structure of the colonies.