Final answer:
The term 'indentured servant' refers to a person who agreed to work a specific number of years in exchange for passage to America, provisions, and eventually 'freedom dues' which often included land. Once their service was completed, some went on to become tobacco planters under the headright system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The indentured servant in your question refers to an individual bound by a labor contract or indenture, a common practice in the colonial period. These individuals, usually impoverished Englishmen, pledged to work for a specific number of years (often five to seven) in the Chesapeake colonies, primarily for growing tobacco. In exchange for their service, they received paid passage to America and provisions such as food, clothing, and lodging.Their lives during the indenture period were challenging, with limited rights, harsh treatment, and a high level of vulnerability.
Upon completion of their service, these indentured servants would receive their 'freedom dues,' which often consisted of land provisioned by the colony and other necessities. Some even went on to start new lives as tobacco planters under the headright system, which encouraged migration to the New World by promising fifty acres of land to those who could afford their journey to Virginia, with an additional fifty acres for each servant or family member they brought.
However, life for these servants was challenging. They were essentially treated as property and could be bought, sold, or traded by those who purchased their labor contracts. Their rights were severely limited as any act of crime or disobedience could lead to the extension of their service contract, often by several years.
Learn more about Indentured Servants