slavery vs Indentured Servitude

Writing Assignment #1


Slavery Vs. Indentured Servitude
An individual can often wonder why slavery eclipsed indentured servitude. “Slavery, in spite of its seeming superiority, was actually not as advantageous as indentured labor, during the first half of the century. Indentured servants were roughly half the cost of a slave and with the high mortality rate of immigrants to Virginia, there could be no great advantage in owning a man for a lifetime rather than a period of years.” (Morgan 297) They both provided a work force to produce cash crops. So how is it feasible that slavery became the choice of labor to over come indentured servitude?
Due to racism, slavery eclipsed indentured servitude.

Virginia had been experiencing social problems with indentured servants, due to the fact that these servants became free after a period of years and could not become successful planters. “Up until the 1640’s the labor force in Virginia was mainly composed of white servants. But ...