. What was the significance of the "Middle Ground" In North America during the colonial period?
a. Large numbers of escaped slaves from the Middle Colonies treated it as a haven and established a lasting settlement there.
b. The British and the French respected it as Cherokee territory, creating a precedent for Native American land ownership.
c. The discovery of precious metals elsewhere led to a drastic decline in the population of this area and a decrease of interest in the frontier.
d. Caught in imperial rivalries between France, Spain, and England, it was viewed as a lush and promising location for future settlement by Anglo-American colonists.
e. It was the preferred settlement area for “crypto-Jews” in North America and attracted many Spaniards.