Question

What was a key distinction between servants and slaves in late 17th century Virginia?

1) Servants were paid for their work, while slaves were not
2) Servants had the possibility of gaining their freedom, while slaves did not
3) Servants were primarily white Europeans, while slaves were primarily Africans
4) Servants were treated more leniently by the law, while slaves were subject to harsher punishments

Answer 1

Servants in 17th century Virginia were indentured and could earn their freedom, whereas slaves were forced into lifelong unpaid labor with no chance of freedom.

Step-by-step explanation:

The key distinction between servants and slaves in late 17th century Virginia was that servants, often free-born English and other Europeans, signed indentured servitude contracts which meant they would work for a certain number of years in exchange for passage to the colony, food, shelter, and eventually freedom and land once their indenture ended. Slaves, on the other hand, were primarily Africans who were forced into a lifetime of unpaid labor with no prospects for freedom, and their status as slaves would be inherited by their descendants. This difference intensified as the colony's elite sought to maintain a permanent labor force, leading to a racialized system of labor with legal distinctions durably embedding slavery into societal structures.