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Why did the institution of slavery in the United States replace indentured servitude?

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Final answer:

The institution of slavery replaced indentured servitude due to the increasing labor demand in the South. Slavery in the Americas differed fundamentally from past instances of slavery and other labor systems. The transatlantic slave trade was distinct from previous forms of slavery.

Step-by-step explanation:

The institution of slavery in the United States replaced indentured servitude primarily due to the increasing demand for labor in the South, where labor-intensive crops such as tobacco and rice were grown. Indentured servants served for a limited period before gaining their freedom, which made them an insufficient labor supply for the growing needs of the South. As a result, slavery became a more permanent and inheritable form of labor.


Unlike previous instances of slavery, slavery in the Americas was characterized by its permanence and the identification of slavery with race. The children of enslaved people were also born into slavery, which perpetuated the institution. This fundamental difference in the nature of slavery in the New World resulted in significant social and cultural changes.


The transatlantic slave trade was distinct from previous forms of slavery because it involved the mass transportation of African slaves across the Atlantic Ocean. Slavery in the Americas relied heavily on African slaves due to factors such as the unsuitability of Native Americans and European indentured servants for labor in the hot climate and the perception that Africans were physically better suited for hard labor.

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