The abundance of land in the North American colonies provided the settlers with good life and prosperity. As plantations expanded, the need of labor, both slaves and indentured servants, also grew. This led to a sharp increase of the population, with a rate at about three times the growth in Europe, according to the book Out of many. Caused not only by the good quality of life but also by the high migration of young workers from Europe. Majority of the workers stayed in the port towns performing skilled jobs or working as a seamen. The gradual expansion of the skilled workforce in towns during the 18th century, changed the manufacturing from meeting the needs of the plantations to retail oriented industry, which attributed to the development of social hierarchy in the North American colonial society. While the population of the colonies grew, the demand for skilled labor in rapidly increased. At the beginning skilled workers would be hired by the planters to perform the tasks in exchange for board and wages. However later they began settling in the towns and opening a shop in their houses. They would hire their own bonded servants as apprentices, and also become customers for other shops, contributing to the prosperity of the town. Soon, those shops expanded and were able to hire more labor, producing not only ordered products but also for resale. This induced more active and diverse economy, sculpturing the layers of the colonial society. Unlike the first settlers that were divided mostly to planters at the top and servants on the bottom, the 18th century society had developed complex class system. At the top high class were merchants, ministers and lawyers. Artisans, dressed nothing like the elite, however, lived a good live and enjoyed their freedom. Even though only members from the elite were able to participate in politics, men who owned property were allowed to vote. Those included artisans, laborers, and family farmers that fo