Question

Which of the following was a feature of indentured servitude in seventeenth-century Virginia?

Option 1: Indentured servants were held in bondage only for a limited period of time.
Option 2: Indentured servants had the same legal rights as free colonists.
Option 3: Indentured servants could not be bought or sold by their masters.
Option 4: Indentured servants were guaranteed land ownership upon completing their service.

Answer 1

A feature of indentured servitude in seventeenth-century Virginia was:

Option 1: Indentured servants were held in bondage only for a limited period of time.

Indentured servants typically signed contracts (indentures) agreeing to work for a specific number of years in exchange for passage to the New World and, sometimes, other provisions like food and clothing. Once their indenture period was completed, they were typically granted their freedom and sometimes received a "freedom dues" package, which might include land or other resources, although it wasn't guaranteed.