Question

In the 1700s, many American colonies needed laborers. Wealthy people would pay for poor people to be brought in from other countries to work for them. The poor people would not get paid, but would work to pay off their passage to North America. After a few years, the poor people would be allowed to work for pay or to move on to other jobs.

What system of labor is this describing?
A) slavery
B) servants
C) factory work
D) indentured servitude

Answer 1

The system of labor being described is indentured servitude, where individuals worked for a set number of years to pay for their passage to the American colonies and were compensated with 'freedom dues' at the end of their service.

Step-by-step explanation:

The system of labor being described in the question is D) indentured servitude. This was a labor system in which individuals, often from Europe, would agree to work for a certain period of time to pay off the cost of their passage to the American colonies. In the 1700s, many American colonies needed laborers, and indentured servitude served as a means to populate the workforce before the widespread adoption of slavery. Indentured servants were not paid during their term of service but were provided food, clothing, and shelter. Upon completion of their service, they typically received "freedom dues," which could include land, tools, and other supplies necessary to start an independent life.