Indentured Servants

Definition

Indentured servants were individuals who agreed to work for a specified number of years in exchange for passage to the New World and, typically, basic necessities during their servitude. This labor system was prominent in the colonies, particularly in North America, and played a crucial role in shaping labor dynamics before the rise of African slavery.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Indentured servitude was commonly used in the 17th and 18th centuries as a means to meet labor shortages in the American colonies, especially in agriculture.
2. Typically, indentured servants signed contracts lasting from four to seven years, after which they were expected to receive 'freedom dues,' including land, money, or tools.
3. Many indentured servants came from England and other parts of Europe, motivated by economic hardship and the promise of land and opportunities in America.
4. The system began to decline in the late 17th century as the demand for labor increased, leading to a shift towards African slave labor due to its perceived economic advantages.
5. Although indentured servants had legal rights, their conditions could often be harsh and exploitative, leading to mistreatment and high mortality rates during their service.

Review Questions

• How did indentured servitude differ from slavery, and what were the implications of this difference for labor in the American colonies?
  • Indentured servitude differed from slavery primarily in terms of freedom and duration. Indentured servants signed contracts for a limited period, after which they could gain their freedom and potentially own land. In contrast, slaves were considered property for life. This distinction allowed indentured servants to integrate into colonial society as free individuals, while slavery created a permanent underclass that contributed to social and racial divisions.
• Evaluate the reasons for the decline of indentured servitude in favor of African slavery in the late 17th century.
  • The decline of indentured servitude was influenced by several factors, including rising wages in England, which made it less attractive for individuals to emigrate as servants. Additionally, as plantation economies expanded and demand for cheap, reliable labor grew, plantation owners increasingly turned to African slaves who could be purchased outright rather than having to honor contracts with indentured servants. This shift fundamentally changed labor systems and racial dynamics in colonial America.
• Analyze the impact of events like Bacon's Rebellion on the perception and treatment of indentured servants within colonial society.
  • Bacon's Rebellion highlighted class tensions between wealthy planters and former indentured servants who felt disenfranchised. The rebellion underscored how economic instability and social inequality could lead to unrest. In response, colonial leaders sought to prevent similar uprisings by shifting toward a reliance on African slave labor, as it offered a more controllable workforce. This change not only altered labor practices but also deepened racial divisions within society.

Related terms

Plantation System: A system of agricultural production that relied heavily on cash crops and was characterized by large estates worked by laborers, often indentured servants or enslaved people.

Transatlantic Slave Trade:

The forced transportation of enslaved Africans to the Americas, which began in the 16th century and drastically changed labor systems, eventually overshadowing indentured servitude.

Bacon's Rebellion: A 1676 uprising in Virginia led by Nathaniel Bacon against the colonial government, reflecting tensions between former indentured servants and wealthy planters.