1. The Terrible Transformation
The shift from indentured servitude to slavery in America

2. Focus Question
Why was it so important to find workers in colonial society?

3. Objectives After today’s lesson, you will:
Evaluate reasons people would choose to become indentured servants.
Examine the shift from semi-free indentured labor to slave labor in the colonies

4. Arrival of Africans in America
“About the latter end of August, a Dutch Man- of-War ... arrived at Point-Comfort .... He brought not any thing but 20 and odd Negroes, which the Governor and Cape Merchants bought for food at the best and easiest rates they could ”
John Rolfe
Letter to Sir Edwin Sandys
1619

5. Convoluted relationships
“Mr. Taylor and I have divided our corn and I am very glad of it for now I know mine own ground.”
Anthony the Negro
Virginia Court Document, 1645

6. Recruiting Settlers Indentured Servants
Poor sold labor for passage to Virginia
Work for 4 to 7 years for
the owner of the indenture
Enabled thousands to settle
in the colony
Provided land for the owner
of the indenture

7. Work Life Indentured Life was a struggle
Required to put in long hours, week in, week out
Unpaid labor
Subject to the discipline of the landowner (the Master)
Received freedom dues when contract lapsed
50 acres of land
Clothing, seed, and tools
At some times, guns

8. Society Based on Indentured Labor
Large quantity of English Poor
Lacked ability to find work
Willing to accept servitude
Low life expectancies in Virginia (average 4 years)
Monopoly on the slave trade drives up the price for slaves

9. Importance of Indentured Labor
With indentured labor readily available, the cost of indentured servants was low.
Why turn to slave labor?
Remains common in
New England
SOCIETY WITH SLAVES

10. Competing Theories Why switch to a system of slave labor? Two theories
English colonies turned to slavery to prevent class conflict
Economic shifts

11. Class Conflict Rivalry between Planters and Poor in Virginia
Economy and government favored the wealthy
Poor farmers felt ignored
Bacon’s Rebellion terrified the
Planters
Virginia needs a permanent unfree labor force
Turn to slave labor, rather than indentured servants
Divide and conquer
Tie poor whites to the Planters with privilege

12. Economic Model Pool of indentured labor dried up Great Fire of London
Learned of the horror of life in Virginia
Public works jobs existed in England
Great Fire of London
Life expectancies rose (by 1650, average was 20 years)
Royal African Company lost its monopoly in 1689

13. Transformation to a Slave Society
Costs of Indentured servants rising
Costs of slaves falling
Labor needs met by slaves, not servants
Southern economy based on slave labor
SLAVE SOCIETY

14. Summary
Describe the most important item you learned in class today.