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Quite often, one would 'buy' a slave's freedom for them by purchasing them from their owner. But, since the slave had no money with which to repay the one who bought their freedom for them, they would have to work off that debt as repayment to the one who bought them. This usually took about 7 years, during which time the slave received nothing but room and board for their 'services'.

Also, many of the more unscrupulous owners would even charge the slave for their room and board, adding that amount to their 'purchase' price, which increased the length of time it took to repay the debt.

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Q: Why did an indentured servants work for free?
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Related questions

What did indentured servants received for their work?

Indentured servants receive FREEDOM


Indentured servants received free passage to American from England in exchange for what?

Work for seven years.


Which people made a contract to work in exchange for transportation to the American colonies?

indentured servants


Who was the colonist who received free passage to North America in exchange for working without pay for a certain number of years?

Indentured servants


Colonists who agreed to work for another in return for passage to America were called?

Indentured servants, also known as bondsmen and bondswomen.


Why did the Jamestown settlers want indentured servants and slaves?

When the colonies required indentured servants or slaves it was to do the work. The first slave arrived in Jamestown in 1609 and after tobacco got a start in the colony workers were needed. Indentured servants didn't work out as well, so more slaves were brought in than indentured servants.


How are slaves different to indentured servants?

Slaves are owned by other people. Indentured servants signed a 7 year contract and were free people.


Slaves and indentured servants were first brought to North American to work producing?

slaves and indentured servants were first brought to north American to work producing


Were indentured servants free?

Indentured servants were free, but at the same time they were like slaves, but treated much better. Indentured servants are people wh agree to work for a person for a certain amount of years for pay if the person will bring them to america. They were free becausethey chose to work for the people, and they weren't kidnapped, but they were almost like slaves because when they finished the agreed years, the master would say tey have to pay them for the shelter, clothes, and food they had while they stayed, which in the end made them work longer.


What were the indentured servants working for?

They were working for free admission to the States.


Indentured servants?

Indentured servants were individuals who signed a contract to work for a set period in exchange for passage to the American colonies, food, and shelter. They were not considered free individuals and had limited rights. Indentured servitude was common in the early American colonies as a way to address labor shortages.


Who were servants that signed a contract to work for 4 to 7 years for those who paid their journey to America?

Those who have contracted themselves to work for seven years in exchange for having their passage paid to reach America are called indentured servants. They often had to work for 7 or more years.