Rise And Fall Of The Indentured Servant System

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Recommended: Slavery during the colonial era

Before the rise of slavery in colonial America, most labor was preformed by

Indentured servants. Becoming a servant was an easy way for people to get to the New

World, and provided much needed labor. With the weak law system established in the

colonies, masters could easily exploit the servants in order to keep them in place. At first

there were many people, either willingly, or forced, to give up there freedom in order to

make it to America. The indentured servant system finally came to an end with the

transportation of black slaves into America.

he indentured servant system developed through a need for food during the harsh

winters, and for the huge sums of money that could be made through harvesting tobacco

crops.During the early years in the colonies, little food was available and starvation was

to the point of cannibalism. The settlers needed to produce more corn crops then they

could on their own. The answer: hired labor workers. With an increased labor supply,

more food was produced, helping calm the hunger situation in the colonies. With the

food problem out of the way, settlers could focus on profits now. One of the easiest and

most successful ways of making money was to grow tobacco. Right from the start

colonists realized the potential of tobacco farms in America. Having indentured servants

maximized profits gained from the tobacco crops.

The System was simple therefore easy to maintain. Being an indentured servant

meant having being shipped to America, where you have to work for a certain amount of

time before being let go, and given land, food, and other necessities. For many people,

this would be the only way for them to make ...

... middle of paper ...

...th servants, slaves were forced to labor for life, with no promise of release or claims to land. African slaves were not accustomed to the North American geography, making it harder for them to run away. Selling slaves was also hugely profitable. James Madison said that “he could make $257 on every Negro in a year, and spend only $12 or $13 on his keep.” With declining numbers of people willing to become servants, and the availability of African slaves, the Slave system was quick to replace indentured servitude.

The indentured servant system was a major part in the early history of America. Need and greed combined to form a system of hired labor. Becoming a servant was the easiest way for people wanting to go to the New World, to escape from the English. In the end, Its rise and fall led to slavery, one of the most controversial topics in American history.

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