Similarities Between Slavery And Indentured Servitude

Slavery and Indentured Servitude There are two different types of servants, slaves and indentured servants. Indentured servants were people who wanted to come to America from someone paying their way in exchange for their labor. Slaves were people who were forced to work for masters because they did not have enough power to stop the people from selling or trading them. Many people were affected by indentured servitude and slavery. By comparing the two you can understand the differences and similarities between the two. African slave labor first began in the 1650’s. Africans were brought to America from West Africa against their will. The Africans were ripped away from their families and their lives. Many Africans died from diseases and starvation on the boats to America. Those who survived the trip to America were sold primarily to plantation owners to work in their fields and homes. Slaves were thought of as property and bought and sold. Some slaves were beaten and tortured and lived in very bad conditions. Very few slaves were ever freed. Once they were a slave they were a slave for life. Children of slaves became slaves themselves. By 1808 it became illegal in America to import more slaves. …show more content…
In the 1600’s, most servants were indentured servants and worked in the tobacco and rice fields of Virginia. Most indentured servants were set free after four to seven years, depending on the rules the colony decided on. At the end of the servant’s service the masters were required to supply their servant with clothing, two hoes, three barrels of corn and fifty acres of land. By the end of the 17th century indentured servants started to dwindle and more African slaves were brought over to