Differences that exist between slaves and servants
Indenture was a global phenomenon that began in the nineteenth century. The indentured system was initiated by the British in Mauritius, and it was considered as a kind of experiment. This great “experiment” (the indentured system) after the eradication of the slave trade was to prove to the whole world the advantages of free labor over the slave trade. Indenture system includes the mass relocation of laborers from China, India, South East Asia, and Africa to those colonies importing labor (Yun et al. 2001). And Mauritius become the first nation that had an alternative to indentured labor. After that, other countries like French, British as well as Dutch colonies adopted the system as seeing its success in Mauritius. An individual became an indentured servant through borrowing some cash and voluntarily agreeing to work as a way of paying their debts for a given agreed period. Therefore, this paper will discuss some of the differences that existed between the indentured servant and the slave trade and later discuss the challenges that come with the indentured system.
The notion of an indentured servant or free slavery in the United States was as a result of the need to have cheap labor. The first immigrants within a short time realized that they have so many lands that needed care, but the workers were few. With the passage of colonies expensive for the wealthy, but not for all, some companies like Virginia started to develop the indentured system as a way of attracting more workers. Hence, the indentured servant became crucial to the economy of the colonies. It was ideal for the timing of the Virginia colony. The 30 years of war has depressed the economy of Europe, and several unskilled and skilled labor were living without work (oxl4q_jfDPI). And a new life in foreign countries offered hope, especially to the Indians and Chinese. Hence the reason why most of the immigrants to America were indentured servants.
The difference between slaves and indentured servants
The differences that existed between the indentured system and slave trade has been unclear due to the changes that took place across several points in time. And therefore, their respective roles or features may seem different, mainly when observed from a different historical viewpoint. Though generally speaking, the slave trade appears to be more pitiful as compared to an indentured servant. The reason is that slaves were never given freedom even after various decades of hard walk and toil. And they were considered totally as laves as long as they lived. As a search, they factually become their servant property, and they had no right whatsoever.
An indentured servant or free slaves differ from slaves; they can be given freedom after a particular time. Therefore, it existed agreed-upon labor terms wherein the indentured servant was to serve a specific individual as remuneration for being granted access to foreign lands such as the United States or other specified conditions (25afmegi8Gk). The services of the indentured servant can be exchanged for lodging, transportation, food, clothes as well as other facilities, especially during the period of indentured. Most of these people were young, less than twenty-one years of age, to be precise, and they worked on firms performing most of the manual work. Besides, some of these servants were asked to undertake some domestic work at home, and they were never paid anything.
When the duty has been accomplished, the contract was dismissed, and the indentured servant can, therefore, have a chance to have a more generous life. Besides, after the termination of the agreement, some servants can get a monetary incentive called freedom dues. Afterward, they are viewed as free society members. In this link, they are as well entitled to the freedom and the right to owning property and real estate. Besides, these servants can get themselves remarkable jobs as well as participating in voting. Nevertheless, there are some occurrences in which their services might be protracted by their masters due to infringement to the contract, especially when they have desecrated some set regulations and rules. Due to these, the typical year of obligated, which was between four to six years, can be elongated to even seven years or more.
Before the United States civil war, historically speaking, both slaves and indentured servants were considered as master’s property, or the master was the owner. Though, the laws that were passed during the period of post-civil war to protect the rights of the servants or the slaves removed the shame slaves were the personal property of the master (Yun et al. 2001). Just like all other property or assets, slaves can be exchanged, sold, negotiated for, as well as being included as part of the assets to be included in the will. By dissimilarity, it is only the agreement of the indentured servants, in this case, not the actual servant that can be bargained for or be bought by any interested third party. It is virtual to note that only after the closing of the deal that the rights of the servant’s labor services were passed on.
Challenges faced by the new indentured servants
There are several challenges encounter by an indentured servant in the hands of their masters. For instance, the life of these servants was never an easy one. The punishment that was given to the lawbreakers was very hash as compared to the sentence of non-servants. Extension of the indentured period was one of the challenges encountered by these savants, especially when they run away or become pregnant for the case of female servants (Diptee 2000). Another challenged involved a discriminatory attitude showed by the whites towards the Indians, and this can be traced through an Indian nationality called Polak. A shared method of addressing laboring classes of Indians was called “Sammy,” which remained the second class citizens on the matters of traveling on tramcars and railways. This man was not allowed to walk on the pavements or footpaths, and the arrogance of the inferior white leaders caused him so much humiliation, irritation as well as bitterness. Also, hotels never offered any accommodation to Indian nationals, even though Indians were Durban ratepayers. They were also prohibited from using children’s paddling pools while on the beach and municipal baths.
Another challenge included a poor social condition, which was coupled with the most unfortunate features of labor employment such as climatic differences, over long working hours, an insufficient supply of food, punishments, and petty punishments, the temptation to immorality, Ill use as well as the most ardors drudgery. The coolie marries immorality, and prostitutes prevailed, somewhat on the explanation of non-acceptance of religious marriages of Indians and slightly through the luck of any spiritual, social, or and educational upliftment. Also, another challenge included ignorance. The colonies utilized the laborers’ ignorance since they lacked the knowledge concerning the contract, social conditions, and the law of the county (Audra-diptee/7_indentured-labour-in-the/s-2rneY).
Therefore, in the continuance of labor mistreatment, the Indians and the Chinese were the principal sources of the coolie’s labor in lower brutal conditions as compared to slavery. For both indentured servants, therefore, there was never the end of their lives since most of them serviced the challenges by using new opportunities offered by unique circumstances. For instance, both the Chinese and the Indians came from antique societies guided by traditions and beliefs sanctified by time. As these servants continued to adapt to their adopted nations, they employed their inherited jetties as an enabler in the new native country in the pacific and Atlantic world.
Conclusion
In conclusion, therefore, an individual became an indentured servant through borrowing some cash and voluntarily agreeing to work as a way of paying their debts for a given agreed time. The differences that exist between slaves and servants is that unlike indentured servants, slaves were treated as the master personal asset. A servant was more of a kind of business agreement, and on the other hand, being a slave was like a state of someone’s life. Also, slaves were freed for life, while servants were granted a chance to become free members as long as they complete their service agreed period. Also, a servant was working in exchange for approved free accommodation, amenities, or even passage to the foreign countries while slaves were never paid for their services. And finally, servants worked for a particular period under their masters. Also though there were lots of challenges which were encountered by the indentured servants, like poor service conditions, discrimination, an extension of working hours, as well as lack of knowledge about the laws and their rights, most of the servants overcome these kinds of life.