Indentured servitude was an important part of life in colonial America. It helped shape how the colonies grew and worked in several ways.
Labor Supply: Between the 1600s and 1700s, more than 500,000 indentured servants came to America. Most of them were from England, Ireland, and Germany. These people agreed to work for a certain number of years, usually between four to seven years. In return, they got a ride to America, a place to live, and food.
Economic Growth: The colonies started growing cash crops, like tobacco in Virginia and rice in South Carolina. This meant they needed more workers. By the year 1700, Virginia was making over $1 million from tobacco each year, and many of these workers were indentured servants.
Population Growth: Because of indentured servitude, the colonies grew quickly in population. By 1750, the number of people living in the colonies was over 1 million. A big part of that number came from indentured servants who finished their contracts and decided to stay in America.
Transition to Slavery: As the need for workers continued to rise, the system started changing from indentured servitude to slavery. By 1660, more enslaved Africans were brought to America, changing the way labor worked and increasing the use of African slaves over indentured servants.
In these ways, indentured servitude was key to building the economic foundations of colonial America.
Indentured servitude was an important part of life in colonial America. It helped shape how the colonies grew and worked in several ways.
Labor Supply: Between the 1600s and 1700s, more than 500,000 indentured servants came to America. Most of them were from England, Ireland, and Germany. These people agreed to work for a certain number of years, usually between four to seven years. In return, they got a ride to America, a place to live, and food.
Economic Growth: The colonies started growing cash crops, like tobacco in Virginia and rice in South Carolina. This meant they needed more workers. By the year 1700, Virginia was making over $1 million from tobacco each year, and many of these workers were indentured servants.
Population Growth: Because of indentured servitude, the colonies grew quickly in population. By 1750, the number of people living in the colonies was over 1 million. A big part of that number came from indentured servants who finished their contracts and decided to stay in America.
Transition to Slavery: As the need for workers continued to rise, the system started changing from indentured servitude to slavery. By 1660, more enslaved Africans were brought to America, changing the way labor worked and increasing the use of African slaves over indentured servants.
In these ways, indentured servitude was key to building the economic foundations of colonial America.