Indentured Servants Vs. Slaves

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Both

The lowest in the social class social class system.

Usually came from a different country.

Worked for someone, usually rich, like a gentry (the richest person in the class system.)

Both were NOT paid.

Indentured Servants

Are considered free and are not literally "owned as property."

Signed contracts

because they wanted

to pay a debt.

They also wanted someone to pay their ocean passage to the Americas.

Worked for 4 - 7

years.

Got a set of cloths and 50 acres of land.

Slaves

Forced to work for their owners.

NEVER free (unless they escape somehow of course)

Often beaten

Treated as property (ex: sold)

Worked their whole lifetime.

Occupations: Worked on plantations, built ships, unloaded docks, and helped in marketplaces.

Indentured Servants Working

Slaves Working