Indentured Servitude vs Slavery 1600s in Colonial America

Indentured Servitude vs. Slavery 1600’s in Colonial America

John Rolfe & Tobacco n n n John Rolfe introduced tobacco in Jamestown in the year 1613 He grew a different type of tobacco than the Indians He sent tobacco to England for trade in 1613

Tobacco n Tobacco became the cash crop in the Colony n Virginia’s economy was dependent on tobacco n Plantation owners needed many workers to plant, pick, and dry the tobacco

Indentured Servants n n Workers arrived in VA in 1616 to work on the plantations An Indentured Servant was a person who agreed to work without pay for a certain amount of time

Indentured Servants n n n Most chose to come They received free passage to the New World They received food, clothes, and a place to stay

Indentured Servants n n n Some were criminals sent to do labor for their crime Some were poor and saw it as a chance to start a new life All agreed to work for 4 -7 years and then gained their freedom

Indentured Servants n Some died from overwork or disease n Indentured Servants had few rights

Slavery n n n In the 1600’s Europeans had trading forts off the West African coast Europeans traded guns, iron, and cloth for African gold, ivory, palm oil, and slaves African tribes fought each other for control of this trade

Slave Trade n n Known as the “Triangular Trade” Europeans first traveled to the West coast of Africa Then they traveled to the West Indies Then to the American Colonies and back to England

Middle Passage n n n n n Africa to the West Indies Awful experience for African people Lasted 10 -12 weeks Crammed and chained into tight quarters below ship Death Disease Escape

Images of Middle Passage

Slaves arrive in Virginia n In 1619 a Dutch trading ship arrived in VA n 20 Africans were sold as Indentured Servants n They were kidnapped and taken against their will Middle Passage

Slaves n African People n Kidnapped/taken against their will n Became enslaved after General Assembly made laws to make slavery official

Slaves n Worked their whole lives without pay n Had no rights/freedom n Children were born into Slavery n They were bought and sold like property

Resources: Websites & Videos n www. youtube. com/watch? v =ll 7_0 d. Pz. Gi. E n hitchcock. itc. virginia. edu/Slavery/