Why did people voluntairly by becoming indentured servants?

Answer 1

Usually, it was to pay off passage to a new place, either a new country, a new home or even a new county far from where they currently lived. . Most commonly, the "bond" was for 7 to 8 years, during which the person could not leave the employment of his bond holder, the employer provided little if any pay, but was responsible for housing, food, other essentials, and training. Upon completion of the term of the contract the "bondie" sometimes received a lump sum payment such as a parcel of land and was free to farm or take up trade of his own. For most, they entered into this contract because they had little or no expectation of gaining land of their own due to being poor. The reality was that 30 to 50 per cent of these people died before their contract was up.
There is also enforced servitude....this was a common way of punishing a minor criminal...and was also used to "bond" Indians in the Colonies.

Answer 2

Indentured servitude was not a permanent state like slavery; it had possibility of starting a new life. A lot of people became indentured servants as a way of escaping from the old world, where poverty was rampant and opportunities scarce, to America. Not all indentured servants were voluntary however. Some were offered indentured servitude in America as an alternative to prison in merry olde England.

Answer 3

Sometimes it was for passage to a new land. For example, some people indentured themselves to pay for their trip to America. Once they payed their time they were left to their own devices and could pursue whatever they wanted. For the poor it was a good way to get a new start.

Answer 4

They were given free passage to the "new" world in exchange for an agreed number of years of service.

In the 18th and 19th centuries these "servants" were little more than slaves. The only difference being that they had an end date.

Answer 5

it was the lesser of two evils.