Compare And Contrast Servitude And Slavery

1. Servitude was considered better than slavery. The people who commonly entered into servitude were redemptioners, convicted felons, and the poor whites. Unless you had money, you were expected to work and many immigrants had to enter into servitude. Redemptioners were typically involved in servitude as a family after they made the journey over to the Americas. This is due to the fact that they could only pay for a portion of the trip and had to either enter servitude, or ask people they knew for money. Convicted felons of Europe were essentially given two options besides being hanged. They could either “call for the book,” in which case only the literate would be spared, or in special scenarios a judge could allow them to work in the Americas as reparation for their sins. The poor whites that became indentured servants had no other choice. With little means, …show more content…
Redemtioners were really the only ones who voluntarily picked servitude. Felons were subject to what the judges decided and had no say as to wether or not they went to the Americas. Poor whites didn't have a choice but to enter into the workforce with the hope that the end of their term would result in money and a brighter future. 2. Servitude and slavery were very similar, but also distinctly different. In a broader sense, slavery and servitude both resulted in cruelty, premature deaths, and almost never involved freedom. Slavery was far more merciless and inhumane than the treatment of white indentured servants. Servitude offered more flexibility and the small possibility of a better life in the end. To slaves, the only way they could ever be free, would be if they successfully ran away and were never caught. One thing that was true with both, was sexual assault. Women who brought sexual assault cases to court could be removed from the service of the assailant and relocated to a new master. Indentured servants were treated slightly better on the journey to the Americas than