In the context of voting rights, who could participate in elections in colonial America?

The correct answer reflects the social and political structure of colonial America, where property ownership was a key criterion for voting rights. In the majority of the colonies, only landowning males were permitted to vote. This limitation was rooted in the belief that property owners had a vested interest in the community and governance, thus they were considered more responsible and capable of making political decisions.

Participation in elections was often restricted to those who met certain property qualifications, which meant that many adult males who did not own land, as well as women and enslaved individuals, were excluded from the electoral process. While the broader context might suggest that all adult males had the right to vote, it wasn't the case due to these restrictions tied to land ownership. This understanding correctly highlights the foundational principles of exclusion based on social status and property in early American democracy.

Other choices like 'all residents' and 'only white males' are inaccurate generalizations. 'All residents' would suggest a much more inclusive society than existed at that time, and while many voters were indeed white males, the reality of voting rights in the colonies was specifically restricted to landowning individuals. Thus, "all landowning males" accurately captures the demographic that had electoral rights during colonial times.