Final answer:
The labor system in the South changed during the 17th century as A) it shifted from indentured servitude to primarily enslaved labor, resulting in a permanent and race-based system of chattel slavery that became economically vital to plantation agriculture. Thus, option A is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The labor system in the South changed during the 17th century as A) it shifted from indentured servitude to primarily enslaved labor. This shift occurred because the supply of indentured servants proved insufficient for the labor-intensive crops of tobacco, rice, and indigo, prevalent in the Southern colonies.
Indentured servants worked for a limited time, after which they were freed, leading to a need for a more permanent labor force.
African slavery in the New World differed from previous forms of slavery, as it became permanent and hereditary, and was closely tied to race. Ultimately, chattel slavery became the dominant form of labor, as it was deemed more cost-effective by plantation owners, thus leading to an economic system heavily reliant on slave labor.
Therefore, the correct answer to the given question is option A.