Indentured Servitude

Definition

Indentured servitude was a labor system in which individuals worked for a specified number of years under a contract in exchange for passage to the New World, room, board, and eventual freedom. This practice was prevalent during the 17th and 18th centuries, primarily in colonial America, as a means to address labor shortages and support the growing economy, particularly in the context of the expanding plantation system that was also tied to the slave trade.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Indentured servitude was commonly used to bring European immigrants to the Americas, especially during the early settlement period when labor was desperately needed.
2. Servants typically agreed to work for 4 to 7 years, after which they were supposed to receive 'freedom dues' including land, money, or goods.
3. Many indentured servants faced harsh working conditions, and their lives could be precarious due to the risks of illness, injury, or not surviving their term.
4. The decline of indentured servitude in the late 18th century was influenced by the increasing reliance on chattel slavery as plantations expanded and more permanent forms of labor became desirable.
5. Indentured servitude played a significant role in shaping social and economic structures in early American colonies and contributed to patterns of migration and settlement.

Review Questions

• How did indentured servitude differ from chattel slavery in terms of rights and outcomes for workers?
  • Indentured servitude was based on a contractual agreement where individuals worked for a specific number of years with the promise of eventual freedom and certain benefits like land or money. In contrast, chattel slavery denied individuals any rights or possibility of freedom, treating them as property for life. While both systems exploited labor, indentured servants had a defined path to freedom, whereas enslaved individuals were permanently bound to their status.
• What role did indentured servitude play in the development of the plantation system in colonial America?
  • Indentured servitude provided a temporary workforce that supported the growth of the plantation system in colonial America by supplying labor for cash crops like tobacco and sugar. This system enabled landowners to cultivate vast tracts of land without investing in permanent labor solutions initially. As indentured servants fulfilled their contracts and moved on, plantation owners eventually shifted towards chattel slavery to secure a more stable and enduring workforce.
• Evaluate the impact of indentured servitude on social structures and class dynamics in colonial America, particularly regarding its eventual decline.
  • The practice of indentured servitude significantly impacted social structures in colonial America by creating a class of free individuals who often had limited rights upon completion of their contracts. This transitional phase fostered upward mobility for some but also reinforced class divisions as wealthier landowners gained more power over time. The decline of this system marked a shift towards chattel slavery, which entrenched racial hierarchies and exacerbated social inequalities that would have lasting effects on American society.

Related terms

Chattel Slavery:

A form of slavery where individuals are treated as personal property and can be bought, sold, or owned forever.

Plantation System: An agricultural system based on large-scale land ownership and the cultivation of cash crops, often reliant on forced labor.

Contract Labor: A labor system where workers sign contracts to work for a specific employer for a defined period, which can include terms similar to those of indentured servitude.