Indentured Servitude vs. Slavery

Indentured Servants

                    

                            

                  

 

                    

                            

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Indentured ServitudeIndentured Servitude

• One half to two thirds of all immigrants to Colonial One half to two thirds of all immigrants to Colonial America arrived as indentured servants. America arrived as indentured servants.

• At times, as many as 75% of the population of some At times, as many as 75% of the population of some colonies were under terms of indenture. .colonies were under terms of indenture. .

• Labor shortages in England and in the colonies. Labor shortages in England and in the colonies. • Criminals convicted of a capital crime in England could Criminals convicted of a capital crime in England could

be transported in lieu of a death sentence.be transported in lieu of a death sentence.• Servitude also could result from indebtedness, where a Servitude also could result from indebtedness, where a

person, their spouse or parents owed money, and the person, their spouse or parents owed money, and the person was sold into servitude to recover the debt. person was sold into servitude to recover the debt.

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Indenture Contract of William Indenture Contract of William Buckland Buckland

• Tobacco plantations had a Tobacco plantations had a high demand for labor. high demand for labor.

• One solution to this was to One solution to this was to contract indentured servants. contract indentured servants.

• An indentured servant would An indentured servant would be contracted to work for a be contracted to work for a master for a set amount of master for a set amount of time in exchange for their time in exchange for their passage to the colonies. passage to the colonies.

• Masters were expected to Masters were expected to feed, clothe and house feed, clothe and house servants and their families. servants and their families.

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Indenture ContractsIndenture Contracts• African slaves were brought into African slaves were brought into

the Chesapeake region in 1619, the Chesapeake region in 1619, but they were more expensive than but they were more expensive than an indentured servant. an indentured servant.

• By 1680, African slaves made up By 1680, African slaves made up less than 7% of the population in less than 7% of the population in the region. 75% of English the region. 75% of English immigrants to the colonies came as immigrants to the colonies came as indentured servants. indentured servants.

• Young unskilled males usually had Young unskilled males usually had a contract that lasted 2-7 years. a contract that lasted 2-7 years.

• Children who were indentured were Children who were indentured were expected to serve until they turned expected to serve until they turned 21. 21.

• Some workers were convicts or Some workers were convicts or vagabonds sentenced to service for vagabonds sentenced to service for up to 14 years by the English up to 14 years by the English courts. courts.

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Conditions of ServitudeConditions of Servitude• Masters were expected to feed, Masters were expected to feed,

clothe and house servants. clothe and house servants. • The reality, however, could be The reality, however, could be

quite different. quite different. • Indentured servants were Indentured servants were

treated the same as, and in treated the same as, and in some cases worse than, some cases worse than, slaves. slaves.

• 2 out of 5 of indentured 2 out of 5 of indentured servants died before servants died before completing their term.completing their term.

• Living and working conditions Living and working conditions were horrible, and servants were horrible, and servants who tried to escape could have who tried to escape could have their term of service extended.their term of service extended.

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FreedomFreedom• Upon the completion of their term Upon the completion of their term

of service, a servant was to be of service, a servant was to be given the things necessary to given the things necessary to start out on their own:start out on their own:– ClothingClothing– ToolsTools– a guna gun– a spinning wheela spinning wheel– LandLand

• Many former servants headed Many former servants headed west to start farms of their own. west to start farms of their own.

• Some masters would allow the Some masters would allow the former servants to pay off the former servants to pay off the indenture of an unmarried indenture of an unmarried woman, thus freeing the woman woman, thus freeing the woman and providing the man with a and providing the man with a wife. wife.

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LawsLaws• A number of laws were enacted A number of laws were enacted

throughout the seventeenth century throughout the seventeenth century that restricted both masters and that restricted both masters and indentured servants. indentured servants.

• In many cases, they were simply In many cases, they were simply treated as children: treated as children: – the masters and mistresses were the masters and mistresses were

mandated to take care of themmandated to take care of them– the servants were ordered to obey the servants were ordered to obey

themthem• Trade between the servant class and Trade between the servant class and

the free members of society was the free members of society was often restricted by law. often restricted by law.

• Masters were ordered to provide Masters were ordered to provide them with food, clothing, and shelter, them with food, clothing, and shelter, were not allowed to treat them were not allowed to treat them cruelly, and were liable to the courts cruelly, and were liable to the courts if they were found to improperly treat if they were found to improperly treat their servants. their servants.

The First Arrival of Slaves

• 1619 in Jamestown

• 20 Africans brought by the Dutch and traded to the English

• English used them as workers on tobacco plantations

• By 1660, slavery as we know it was established in Virginia

Where did they come from?

Western Africa• 3 influential kingdoms = Songhai, Benin, and Kongo• Future slaves taken by the Portuguese from here

Commonalities of West African culture• Small villages• Respect family and tradition• Political leaders get their authority from religion• Everyone owns the land• Trade

Why African Slaves?

European enslaved Africans for 4 basic reasons.1.Africans were immune to most European

Disease.2.Africans had no friends or family in America to

help them escape.3.Enslaved Africans provided a permanent source

of labor, even their children were enslaved.4.Many Africans were experienced farmers in their

native land.

Triangular Trade

Middle Passage

• It was the middle leg of the triangular slave trade which began and ended in Europe. No African expected the misery and horror it held.

• Slavers packed three or four hundred Africans into a lower deck— the ship's cargo.

Where did the captured Africans end up?

Questions

– The argument is often made that indentured The argument is often made that indentured servants were not the same as slaves. Is this servants were not the same as slaves. Is this statement accurate? statement accurate?

– Slavery continues to become less and less Slavery continues to become less and less popular in the north, however the concept of popular in the north, however the concept of indentured servitude remains well through the indentured servitude remains well through the 18th century. Why would slavery remain 18th century. Why would slavery remain strong in the south while in the north it strong in the south while in the north it virtually dies out?virtually dies out?