Final answer:
The shift toward slave labor in the late 1600s was influenced by the inadequacy of indentured servitude to meet labor demands, the high mortality rates of European servants, the non-hereditary nature of their servitude, and the perception of Africans as more suitable for plantation labor.
Step-by-step explanation:
One inducement for the shift toward slave labor in the late 1600s was the realization that slaves did not compete with planters for land and political privilege as freed servants did. This realization came as part of a larger context where European indentured servants, facing high death rates due to diseases and harsh conditions, were inadequate in meeting the labor demands of colonies, particularly in the production of labor-intensive crops like tobacco. Indentured servitude had significant drawbacks such as a heavy initial investment, the likelihood of servants' death, and the eventual loss of skilled labor once servants completed their terms. Furthermore, slavery's heritable nature made it a more permanent labor solution, and Africans were thought to be better suited for the hard labor in plantation agriculture.
In essence, the inadequate supply of indentured servants, combined with high mortality rates and the temporary nature of their labor, drove English colonists to adopt African slavery which provided a more reliable and permanent labor force. This change was influenced by economic considerations and evolved labor practices which distinguished slaves from indentured servants, effectively creating a racial distinction and laying the foundations for systemic racism within the labor system of the colonies.