1. Indentured Servitude

2. Indentured Servitude
One half to two thirds of all immigrants to Colonial America arrived as indentured servants.
At times, as many as 75% of the population of some colonies were under terms of indenture. .

3. Indentured Servitude
The historic basis for indenture grew out of English agricultural servitude and began because of labor shortages in England and in the colonies.
Criminals convicted of a capital crime in England could be transported in lieu of a death sentence.
Servitude also could result from indebtedness, where a person, their spouse or parents owed money, and the person was sold into servitude to recover the debt.

4. Conditions of Servitude
Masters were expected to feed, clothe and house servants.
The reality, however, could be quite different.
Indentured servants were treated the same as, and in some cases worse than, slaves.

5. Conditions of Servitude
Female servants were the victims of sexual exploitation.
2 out of 5 of indentured servants died before completing their term.
Living and working conditions were horrible, and servants who tried to escape could have their term of service extended.

6. Freedom
Upon the completion of their term of service, a servant was to be given the things necessary to start out on their own:
Clothing
Tools
a gun
a spinning wheel
Land
Many former servants headed west to start farms of their own.
Some masters would allow the former servants to pay off the indenture of an unmarried woman, thus freeing the woman and providing the man with a wife.

7. Laws
A number of laws were enacted throughout the seventeenth century that restricted both masters and indentured servants.
In many cases, they were simply treated as children:
the masters and mistresses were mandated to take care of them
the servants were ordered to obey them

8. Laws
Trade between the servant class and the free members of society was often restricted by law.
Masters were ordered to provide them with food, clothing, and shelter, were not allowed to treat them cruelly, and were liable to the courts if they were found to improperly treat their servants.