White Indentured Servants

Definition

These were individuals who voluntarily surrendered their freedom for a specified time (usually five to seven years) in exchange for passage to America. They were used as cheap labor during the 17th and 18th centuries in colonial America.

Analogy

Imagine you want to buy an expensive concert ticket but can't afford it right now. So you agree with your friend that you'll do their chores for six months if they pay for your ticket upfront. That's similar to what white indentured servants did - they worked several years in return for passage to America.

Related terms

Indenture Contract: A legal agreement binding an apprentice to their master until they learn their trade or service.

Headright System: A land grant program designed to attract settlers; Tracts of land called "headrights" were offered to settlers who would come work on them.

Servitude vs Slavery: Servitude is temporary and contract-based (like indentured servitude), while slavery is permanent and based on race or ethnicity without any contractual agreement.