Which of the following groups made up the majority of the colonial population?

The majority of the colonial population in the early American colonies was composed of English settlers. This resulted from the early waves of colonization, particularly in the Chesapeake region and New England, where English immigrants established settlements. The English brought their culture, language, and social systems, which laid the foundation for the development of Colonial America.

While other groups, such as Africans, Germans, and Native Americans, were significant parts of the population, none surpassed the numbers of English colonists. The African population, primarily through the transatlantic slave trade, made a substantial contribution, especially in the Southern colonies, but they were not the majority overall until later in the colonial period. Germans began immigrating in significant numbers during the 18th century and contributed to the diversity of the population but did not constitute a majority in the early years. Native Americans were present before and during European colonization, but their numbers decreased dramatically due to disease, warfare, and displacement.

Therefore, the choice of English as the majority group reflects the demographic reality of colonial America during the early to mid-17th century.