Indentured Servitude in Colonial America

Front

What was a common practice for getting workers to come to colonial America from England (Britain)?

Back

Indentured servitude

Front

What was the duration of a typical indenture contract?

Back

Typically 4 to 7 years

Front

What did indentured servants receive upon completion of their contract?

Back

"Freedom dues," which could include land, money, or goods

Front

How did indentured servitude differ from slavery?

Back

Indentured servitude was a temporary condition with a contract, while slavery was for life without consent.

Front

What were some of the reasons a young man from England might have chosen to be an indentured servant in the 1600s?

Back

• To escape poverty or debt,

• To gain passage to America

Front

What would an employer receive from the King of England if he sponsored an indentured servant from England (called the head right system)?

Back

50 acres of land in the new world per person he brought over