The Pros And Cons Of Indentured Servants

Essay 1 In the early days of the American Colonies cheap labor was mainly found through indentured servants. They were typically white Europeans who wanted to migrate to the new world but did not have the money to do so and in exchange for passage to the new world gave up their rights and became servants. Somewhere along the way the need for cheap labor rose and the need for indentured servants did as well. Though they were no longer just white Europeans looking for a fresh start. There were also black Africans that had been captured and sold to people in the colonies, though due to having no slave laws intact they were also considered to be indentured servants. Which would mean that they also were allowed the same opportunities to receive …show more content…
Though at this time they were considered to be indentured servants because there were no slave laws in act in any of the colonies. As the tobacco business grew so did the need for cheap labor. Since it was becoming more expensive for white indentured servants more farmers were buying black indentured servants, because they were cheaper. Since they were considered indentured servants and not slaves, the black indentured servants were allowed the same opportunities for freedom dues as the whites. Which meant that if a black indentured servant served his time he could then become free and also, if in his contract, awarded a piece of land, or other resources. This did not sit well with the wealthier and land-owning colonials because they, along with freed white servants, threatened to undermine their tobacco plantations. Which aided in the enacting of slave laws. The first slave codes to be established were done so in the Virginia colony. After Bacon’s Rebellion in 1676, stricter slave codes arose after planters decided to institute permanent slavery for Africans and eradicate indentured