work to pay off a debt
No. Indentured workers were very early in colonial history and slaves replaced them as workers.
They used indentured servants.
New England had indentured servants
A benefit for indentured slaves is that they get their trip payed. They just need to work off the amount of years to pay back.
Slaves are owned by other people. Indentured servants signed a 7 year contract and were free people.
Indentured servants were cheaper to employers compared to slaves.
When the colonies required indentured servants or slaves it was to do the work. The first slave arrived in Jamestown in 1609 and after tobacco got a start in the colony workers were needed. Indentured servants didn't work out as well, so more slaves were brought in than indentured servants.
New York had indentured servants and slaves.
The colony with few slaves but many indentured servants was Virginia. In the early days of the colony, before the widespread use of African slaves, indentured servants from England were a significant source of labor.
slaves and indentured servants were first brought to north American to work producing
Landowners may prefer slaves over indentured servants because slaves are considered property and have lifelong servitude, while indentured servants have a set period of servitude and can demand compensation or freedom after their term is complete. This gives landowners more control and long-term labor security with slaves.
Slaves