The notion of indentured servants derived from the need for cheap labor. The American settlers discovered plenty of land that required to be taken care of, but there was not enough manpower to carry out this work. Since getting into the colony was expensive and hard for everyone except the wealthy, the Virginia company created contract slavery to attract new workers. Consequently, indentured servants became an essential part of the colonial economy.
The Thirty Years’ War led to economic stagnation, leaving many skilled and inexperienced workers unemployed. This explains the number of immigrants who have arrived in the American colonies as servants under contract. They worked from 4 to 7 years for travel, room, food, and freedom dues. The life of the servant who signed the contract was limited but had its advantages. Their warranty included at least 25 acres of land, an annual crop of corn, weapons, cows, and new clothing. Some indentured servants even became part of the colonial elite. Still, for the vast majority of servants who survived the harsh conditions of life in the New World, the main goal was a humble and independent life.
The first Africans came to Virginia in 1619, and because there were no laws regarding slavery, they were initially treated as paid servants. Moreover, they were given the opportunity to receive free contributions on a par with white Americans. However, a slave law was soon passed in Massachusetts in 1641 and Virginia in 1661, and the freedom for African slaves disappeared. The demand for labor increased, as well as the cost of contracted servants. Many landowners felt threatened by the land claims of the newly liberated servants. The colonial elites became aware of the problem of contract slavery. Thus, landowners started to perceive African slaves as a more lucrative and renewable source of labor, and the shift from wage servants to racial slaves began.