Indentured Servants and the Middle Passage

True or False: The contract for indentured servitude promised tools, seed, and sometimes even land.

• True

• False

The terrible journey slave ships took across the Atlantic “___________.”

• Atlantic passage

• western voyage

• middle passage

• colonial voyage

Which of the following occurred during transportation of African slaves to the colonies?

• Slaves were packed into the holds like cargo

• Slaves were chained together

• Slaves suffered through intense heat

• Slaves suffered with illness, and rough seas

• Slaves were sometimes forced to dance

True or False: 1 out of every 10 died on the six week long journey to the colonies. Those who did survive were sold at auction.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

1 out of every 7 died on this six week journey. Those who did survive were sold at auction.

Sick African slaves were sometimes thrown overboard while on the voyage to the colonies.

• True

• False

Which three factors helped convince planters to acquire slaves over white indentured servants?

• England became increasingly involved in the slave trade- Easier to acquire slaves

• Slaves appeared to be in better spirits than servants, and more eager to labor

• Supply of white indentured servants started to decline (due to economic conditions improving in England)

• Wealthy planters feared a growing population of bitter ex-servants would increase the likelihood of uprisings (like Bacon’s Rebellion)

Men and women who signed contracts to pay for their passage to the Americas were called...

• Separatists

• Tenant farmers

• Indentured servants

What was the primary purpose of indentured servitude in the American colonies?

• To provide labor for plantations

• To offer religious freedom

• To establish trade routes

• To promote education

Which of the following best describes the Middle Passage?

• A trade route between Europe and Asia

• A journey of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic

• A migration of indentured servants to America

• A path for explorers to the New World

True or False: Indentured servants were guaranteed freedom after a set period of work.

• True

• False