Answer:
The statement that best summarizes the role of Lord Ashley in establishing the Carolinas is option "C, ": Philosopher John Locke assisted Lord Ashley in writing a plan for governing the colony, which included the policy of religious freedom.
Explanation:
In 1663, King Charles granted proprietorship to 8 English noblemen, including Lord Ashley. The Carolina proprietors hoped to attract settlers to the Carolinas from other colonies, but eventually, they had to create incentives for settlers from England in order to keep the colonies viable. The famous philosopher and physician John Locke was made secretary to the proprietorship and together with Lord Ashley, they wrote the Fundamental Constitutions for the Carolina colony. This document guaranteed freedom of religion (except for atheists) and political representation via assembly with power over the taxes that would be exacted. They did not give away sums of money but they did give large grants of land. To increase investment and encourage agriculture, the settlers were also given more land if they imported slaves to the colony.
These measures attracted 6,600 colonists to the colony by the year 1700, which helped them to outnumber the rival colony in St Augustine Florida that was established by the Spanish (Lesser, 1995). Carolina attracted settlers from England, some French Protestants (know as the Huguenots) and other colonists who had first settled elsewhere in the Americas like Barbados and the West Indies.
