Why do property owners and California locals form armed bands?

• A. To protect their crops from thieves
• B. To make sure the Okies stay in their place
• C. To scare off unwanted workers
• D. To feel united

Answer: (B)

The situation in this part of the story centers on control and power: property owners and local Californios use armed bands to police who can stay, work, and live where they are. By intimidating the migrant workers, especially the Okies, they try to keep them from settling, organizing, or challenging low wages and harsh conditions. This isn’t just about protecting crops or simply wanting unity; it’s about enforcing a social order that places the poorer migrants in a subordinate position and keeps the status quo in place.

So the reason that best fits is that these bands aim to keep the Okies in their place, enforcing who belongs and who doesn’t.