What did the headright system do

The headright system legally acquired land for colonist in Virginia

Explanation:

1618, that was when the headright system started in colonial Virginia, this a system of land acquisition by paying for passage to Virginia. A Group of settlers who were running a shortage of labor introduces the headright system to cater for their labor needs in their plantations.

How Headright System Works 50 acres of land were given to each immigrant who paid their passage to the colonies. A colonist could earn an additional 50 acres for an extra person brought to the colonies. Settlers sometimes pay for other people to come to Virginia in return for their service. This in return brought them a very large amount of land.

a legal grant of land to settlers