Question

When and why did slavery overtake servitude?

Answer 1

In 1619, the first Black Africans came to Virginia. However, at that time, Africans were treated as indentured servants, with the same opportunities for advancement as whites, and not as slaves. While their lives were restrictive, indentured servants worked for about four to seven years for passage and lodging, and at the end of their contract, had the right to own land and own their own labor.

However, as population and economy increased in the colonies, the demand for labor grew. This meant that the cost of indentured servants increased. Moreover, many landowners were threatened by the requests for land of the servants. They realized that slavery was a more profitable source of labor. By bringing slaves over from Africa, it was also an almost endless one. The first slave laws were passed in Massachusetts in 1641 and Virginia in 1661. Soon after, the colonies shifted from relying on servitude to relying almost exclusively on slavery.