Monday, December 31, 2012

Compare and contrast indentured servants and slaves in US History.

There were some similarities and some differences between slaves and indentured servants. One similarity is that both groups had to work for another person. As a result, their owners determined how good or how bad their working conditions would be. Both slaves and indentured servants got their basic needs covered. Their owners provided them with food and shelter. They often worked in the fields of their owner.


There were some differences between a slave and an indentured servant. An indentured servant signed a contract for a specific period of time. In return for getting transportation to the colonies, the person agreed to work for that individual for a specific period of time. After the contract was completed, the indentured servant was freed and was paid a bonus that was agreed to when the contract was signed. Slaves were slaves forever. There was no contract, and there was no end date of being a slave. Thus, the indentured servant had something to look forward to after the contract was completed. The slave would remain a slave forever.


There were some similarities and some differences between indentured servants and slaves.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Thomas Jefferson's election in 1800 is sometimes called the Revolution of 1800. Why could it be described in this way?

Thomas Jefferson’s election in 1800 can be called the “Revolution of 1800” because it was the first time in America’s short history that pow...