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First of all indentured people were NOT Slaves. They were people who signed a contract for 7 years to work off the cost spent for them to come to the colonies ( actually there are indentured servants still today). A slave was a human who was bought and sold. They had no say in their life, they were in chains, they had their identity taken from them, they were not free to leave or decide any thing about how they spent their life. The indentured servant was a free white who did decide how to live their life.

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14y ago
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11y ago

They were not the same. Indentured servants were to serve 7 years, but often they left before they finished their time. They could blend in so it made it hard to find them, but any person who was black was a slave and needed a pass to leave the plantation. Indentured servants were paid and free after 7 years. Slaves were never paid and were considered property.

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12y ago

Indentured servants went to the colonies deliberately. They worked for a set amount of time in exchange for passage. After their contracted time was over they were free to do as they pleased.

Slaves were captured and taken to the colonies. They were never freed and weren't considered people at all.

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11y ago

African American slaves were actually treated better than Irish indentured servants. They were also more expensive than the white Irish slaves. Some unscrupulous slave traders decided that creating mulatto children would be a good way to cut costs by selling these mixed race half African and half Irish children for a cheaper cost than a pure African slave so they started forcing african males to mix with Irish women to create this cheaper crop of slaves. But African slaves were at least offered a chance at freedom at some point, whereas Irish "indentured servant" (a nicer way to say slave) were never worthy of freedom as far as the British and British Americans were concerned. Even the word kidnapping comes from the point in history where if Irish children were found alone in Irish cities, they were often stolen (or nabbed) and sent to the Americas to be sold as slaves (kid-nabbing; kidnapping). Irish slaves suffered as much as, if not more, than African slaves, and even the process of transporting them was harsher than that of African slaves, according to records and ship logs at the time. Percentage-wise, more Irish died in transit than African slaves. And even at its worst for African slaves in America, it was only a select few southern states with a very limited number of plantations that even owned African slaves at all. The western states at the time were using cheaper white Irish slaves and even created laws restricting the use of African slaves in the west since white Irish slaves were working out for them just fine and since they were the same color, were easier to hide when controversy arose. So please forgive me, me being of Cherokee and Irish decent when i do not agree that African Americans should have the right to have all black schools, all black colleges, special scholarships regardless of what grades they get, etc. Not all African Americans are descendants of southern slaves. The majority come from free African Americans who were never slaves to begin with. And they were not the only nationality or race who suffered during those ignorant times. So please stop crying race and get on with bettering your lives with the many opportunities that you have been given. If you have it hard, it is because you choose to make it hard, not because great-great grandma might or might not have been a slave long ago!

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14y ago

What were the main differences with the indentured servants and africans?

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Q: How was a slave different than an indentured servant?
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Analyze why colonies needed indentured people?

The colonies had two types of society classes. A form of Aristocracy, which was modeled after those in England, and refers to the upper class or privileged class of society. The other class was the Indentured Servants, which included the poor, either White or Black. Temporary servitude was one of the means by which poor Europeans could come to America. In return for the ship passage they would sign a contract, or indenture, agreeing to work without pay for a specific period of time, usually three to five years. there was no social stigma attached to this type of servitude. Moreover, indentured servants had specific legal rights that could be enforced in court. When an indentured servant's time was up, he or she entered into American society with full legal rights. Upon becoming free, servants were entitled to "freedom dues." These included a suit of clothes, farming tools, and in some colonies, 50 acres of land. Nearly a third of the Europeans who came to America before the Revolutionary War, paid for their transport with temporary bondage. However, the issue of Black slaves would slow down the indentured servant process. This was because and indentured servant would eventually be free. Whereas a Black slave was property, and it was cheaper in the end to own a Black Slave, than to have an indentured servant working for you.


Why did the Jamestown settlers want indentured servants and 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.


How were enslaved people treated differently from indentured servants?

Indentured servants were poor people from England (sometimes prisoners) whose trip to the colonies was payed for by someone wealthier than them. In return, they had to work for that person for a number of years without pay. Slaves (usually African or of African descent) in the American Colonies, were people who had been taken by slave ship and sold in the Americas. They work their whole lives without pay, and their "owners" can do anything they want with them. Another thing is, the indentured servant's children were born free, as the slaves children were born slaves and looked after until they were old enough to work. In summary, Indentured Servants were treated as workers, Slaves were treated as property.


Why did colonists turn to slave labor rather than indentured servants in the late 1600s?

There was a decline in availability of indentured servants from England. The indentured servants from England weren't good workers. Indentured servitude was outlawed in the colonies.


What is the reason plantation owners preferred to have slaves rather than indentured servants?

Slaves were owned as property, but indentured servants were white people who signed a 7 year contract for transportation to the colonies. They could also blend in with the population while anyone who was black was a slave.

Related questions

Why would lawmakers rather use slaves than indentured servant?

suck dic c=======:


Why did middle colonies depend more on indentured servants than slave for labor?

Morality aside, indentured servants made more sense economically than a slave.You could easily buy a fully trained slave, but the slave was usually quite expensive. If you bought an untrained slave or one was born to your existing slave you had put the slave through a training period. During that time you got no work, and possibly some damages made by an inexperienced worker.There were laws regulating the treatment of the slave, and once the slave was too old to work, or too feeble the owner had to feed and clothe that slave for life. By the same token, if you had dangerous work required, and the slave was hurt you had to care for him or her.Slaves were forbidden by law and custom to be taught to read and write therefore they couldn't work as clerks or assist with any business transactions.An indentured servant typically brought existing skills needed by the "employer." Although the servant may have had meals and clothing provided, it wasn't necessarily required. It all depended on the contract. The person taking the indentured servant could specify what he was looking for, and get it on his terms. Once the indenture was over, obligation was over.Lastly, the middle colonies socially were more "do it yourselfers," religious and cultural norms meant that they typically wanted to work and do for themselves. If you were starting a farm or business you may need some help to start but once the operation was going, they wanted to do it themselves.


Why did plantation owners preferred to have slaves rather than indentured slaves?

The children of slave woman were slaves who didn't have to be purchased.


Analyze why colonies needed indentured people?

The colonies had two types of society classes. A form of Aristocracy, which was modeled after those in England, and refers to the upper class or privileged class of society. The other class was the Indentured Servants, which included the poor, either White or Black. Temporary servitude was one of the means by which poor Europeans could come to America. In return for the ship passage they would sign a contract, or indenture, agreeing to work without pay for a specific period of time, usually three to five years. there was no social stigma attached to this type of servitude. Moreover, indentured servants had specific legal rights that could be enforced in court. When an indentured servant's time was up, he or she entered into American society with full legal rights. Upon becoming free, servants were entitled to "freedom dues." These included a suit of clothes, farming tools, and in some colonies, 50 acres of land. Nearly a third of the Europeans who came to America before the Revolutionary War, paid for their transport with temporary bondage. However, the issue of Black slaves would slow down the indentured servant process. This was because and indentured servant would eventually be free. Whereas a Black slave was property, and it was cheaper in the end to own a Black Slave, than to have an indentured servant working for you.


Why did the Jamestown settlers want indentured servants and 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.


What is a reason landowners would rather have slaves than indentured servants.?

Since slavery was for life, I slave provided more years of work. Apex


Why would owners of large plantations rather slaves than indentured servants?

Since slavery lasted a lifetime, a slave provided more years of work.


Why would owners of large plantations rather have slaves than indentured servants?

Since slavery lasted a lifetime, a slave provided more years of work.


Why would owners of large plantations rather have slaves than indentured slaves?

Since slavery lasted a lifetime, a slave provided more years of work.


Was there any way to get free from slavery other than running away?

No. If you were a slave, you would stay a slave your whole life. You could work really hard however and maybe become a house servant. The only real slaves that could eventually work their way out of their slavery, were indentured servants. Or some really nice white guy from down the county would meet you, fall in love, make the BABIEZ, and buy your freedom.


How were enslaved people treated differently from indentured servants?

Indentured servants were poor people from England (sometimes prisoners) whose trip to the colonies was payed for by someone wealthier than them. In return, they had to work for that person for a number of years without pay. Slaves (usually African or of African descent) in the American Colonies, were people who had been taken by slave ship and sold in the Americas. They work their whole lives without pay, and their "owners" can do anything they want with them. Another thing is, the indentured servant's children were born free, as the slaves children were born slaves and looked after until they were old enough to work. In summary, Indentured Servants were treated as workers, Slaves were treated as property.


What is the difference between African slavery and European indentured servitude?

Slaves are owned by another person. Indentured servants signed a 7 year contract to work for that time and pay back the cost of the trip to the colonies. Actually, there are still people today who come here as indentured servants. In CA we have sheepherders that come to work here as indentured servants.Indentured service lasted until the debt was paid off. Slavery was for life.Indentured service was treated as a debt with the penalties administered according to debt law. Slavery classified human beings as chattel with no legal rights or recourse.An indentured servant worked for the person that paid his passage. This would take three or more years. After the debt was paid, that person was free to do what he wanted. This was common in colonial America. A slave was different because the owner kept the slave for life and owned all children of the slave as well.An indentured servant would work for a specific time, maybe 7 years, to pay off a debt. In most cases, slavery is for life.The primary difference between indentured servants and people enslaved from Africa was freedom. Indentured servants were indebted to their masters to work and do their bidding for a temporary period of time. In most cases, indentured servants knew ahead of time how long they would be servants. At the end of that period the master was obligated to set the slave free. Indentured slaves also had rights, they could marry and even buy their way out of slavery.Slaves who were captured and sold during the Transatlantic Slave Trade were bought and sold and classified by law as property. This is known as chattel slavery, and slaves who were subject to this form of slavery were condemned to a lifetime of slavery with no possible chance of being set free. In some rare instances slave owners granted their slaves freedom as a dying wish but this was rare. It is said that Thomas Jefferson who owned slaves requested in his will that his slaves and their children be set free. It was later discovered that Thomas Jefferson had fathered the children of his slave.Chattel slavery was deeping dehumanizing and there have been no recorded incidents of chattel slavery being practiced other than during this dark period.