What do you think are the reasons for the shift from indentured servitude to slavery in colonial virginia?

Question

I need opinions on this so please do your best to answer this question.

Answer 1

Colonial Virgina had one of the largest cash crop business: tobacco. Because of this, some serious labor shortages had begun. Plantation owners were tired of freeing there indentured servants after 7 years and giving out their property, so they moved on to Native American slavery, whom they did not have to free, and from them, to African slavery. Plantation owners were also more likely to use African slavery because the people would make families, having children. Thus, the plantation owner would accumulate more slaves, since children born to slaves were slaves as well.

Answer 2

There was an indentured servant (African) who caused his owner such financial hardship and turmoil by his constantly running off that a judge declared that the man's indenture could not be paid off in his lifetime and he became a slave. That was the first ruling.

By the way, the owner was ALSO an African who had worked off his indenture.

The judge's ruling was cheered by landowners who had resisted freeing those who had served their indenture. One of their reasons for keeping people in slavery is that they were not English and they could not conduct themselves in a civilized fashion so they must be taken care of.

By the way, the most intelligent slaves adapted quickly and proved themselves able workers. If given a chance, they learned a trade. Many bought themselves out when the indenture system broke down.

Answer 3

I think that the colonists knew all about indentured servitude. Many of them, in ways, were servants and slaves to the ruling force of England. After breaking away from the soverign state, however, things changed.

I don't think many of the colonists actually knew what they were jumping into. I believe that they wanted freedom, and so accepted it blindly. When you aren't prepared for the responsibilities of something, things can often go opposite of what you want it to.

I daresay that before moving to the colonies, many of these colonists had never before seen a man of any ethnicity but their own. To see people of different skin, language, and so-called "barbaric' ways, I think they would feel superior. They were, after all, highly civilised, or were as far as it went for that time period.

I think that while they first would wish work to be done by other, less fortunate persons, the need for power would eventually come over them as it does most of us who are given a taste. In feeling that power, they would also feel that other ethnicites are inferior to them, and maybe would find them to be no more than dogs or horses- animals who must be made to work.

As time would pass, and their wealth would grow, I think they would also find poorer families to be inferior to their greatness. Sadly, this is how we as humans are. We often do not see past our own self-worth. It is sad, but we do cruel things to justify ourselves.

I think this is how slavery came to be... but I may be wrong, of course.

Answer 4

indentured servants were freed after 7 years at which time the plantation owner had to purchase new servants but African slaves were slaves for live as were their offspring. this was not so for indentured servants. and originally Africans were freed after 7 years.

Answer 5

The servants revolted for equality, causing the practice to switch course.

Answer 6

Greed.

Its much cheaper to have slaves. The racial division just made it even easier to do.