WorksheetsIndentured Servants Reading Class Quiz
Total questions: 10
Worksheet time: 3mins
What was the primary purpose of an indenture contract?
To secure land in England
To pay for passage to America through labor
To guarantee military service for the crown
To provide free education in the colonies
On average, how long did most indentured servants serve?
1 year
2 years
4 years
10 years
Why was indentured servitude attractive to many Europeans?
They were guaranteed high wages in England
Land ownership opportunities were limited in Europe
The voyage to America was inexpensive
It required no legal contracts
Who were considered the 'buyers' in the indenture market?
Planters and merchants
Servants and laborers
Colonial courts
Ship captains
Which group of people often had indenture contracts shorter by about 1.5 years during the early 17th century?
Prisoners
Educated artisans
Single women under 18
Skilled craftsmen
What role did colonial courts play in maintaining the indenture system?
They reduced the length of contracts arbitrarily
They enforced contracts and punished abuses or runaways
They created indenture contracts for planters
They banned indentures from running away to frontier lands
Why did indentures in the West Indies typically last about 9 months less than those in North America?
Planters there had more wealth to buy shorter contracts
Courts in the West Indies limited contract length
Harsh cane field conditions discouraged workers
Ships could not transport servants as far
Which factor eventually made slavery more economically appealing than indentured servitude?
Slaves required no initial payment
Slaves could be freed after seven years
Slaves had longer work lives and lower long-term costs
Slaves were less likely to resist or run away
How did supply and demand influence the average length of indenture contracts?
They remained fixed regardless of conditions
They shifted depending on gender shortages, skill level, and labor needs
They were determined by the king’s officials
They were shortened after the American Revolution
Which change in Europe reduced the number of people willing to become indentured servants?
A) A rise in slavery in the Americas
B) Improved labor conditions and higher wages in England
C) The decline of the headright system
D) Shorter indenture contracts for women
