Question

Why was indentured servitude introduced in the colonies?

A.
Local laborers were unreliable.

B.
It was a cost-effective way of hiring labor to work on large plantations.

C.
Indentured servants were highly skilled in cultivating cash crops such as tobacco.

D.
The colonists wanted to display the power of their wealth and status.

Answer 1

B. It was a cost-effective way of hiring labor to work on large plantations.

Indentured servitude was introduced in the colonies as a means to address the labor shortage that existed in the early settlements. Many colonists, particularly in the southern colonies, needed a significant labor force to work on large plantations, which were primarily focused on cultivating cash crops such as tobacco, rice, and indigo. The settlers lacked a sufficient workforce, and local laborers were often scarce and unreliable.

Indentured servitude provided a solution to this labor shortage. Indentured servants were individuals, often from England and other parts of Europe, who voluntarily agreed to work for a specific period (typically 4 to 7 years) in exchange for passage to the colonies and the promise of land or other benefits after their term of service ended. Plantation owners and other colonists saw this system as a cost-effective way to obtain labor and build up their agricultural enterprises.

It's worth noting that indentured servitude was different from slavery, as indentured servants were not considered property and had a contractual agreement with a fixed term of service. However, the system was not without its problems, and many indentured servants faced harsh conditions, limited rights, and exploitation during their time of servitude. Over time, as the demand for labor increased and the supply of indentured servants decreased, the institution of slavery became more prevalent in the American colonies.

I hope this helped!

~~~Harsha~~~

Answer 2

The correct answer is B. It was a cost-effective way of hiring labor to work on large plantations.

According to the web search results, indentured servitude was introduced in the colonies because of a large demand for labor and a high cost of transatlantic transportation. The Virginia Company developed the system of indentured servitude to attract workers who could not afford the passage to the New World. Indentured servants agreed to work for a fixed period of time, usually four to seven years, in exchange for their transportation, food, clothing, and lodging.

Indentured servitude was not related to the skill level or the type of crops that were cultivated in the colonies. It was also not a way of displaying wealth and status, as most indentured servants were poor and had few rights. Indentured servitude was mainly a way of providing cheap and abundant labor for the colonial economy.