Question

Which group of immigrants did southern planters often prefer to use for very

dangerous jobs because slaves were too expensive to put at risk?

Answer 1

Southern planters preferred using European indentured servants for dangerous jobs as slaves were too expensive to risk. High mortality among European workers from diseases increased reliance on African slaves. Europeans competed with native workers in urban centers affecting wages and job security.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the historical context of labor in the American South, indentured servants from Europe were often used for very dangerous jobs. This was because slaves were considered too valuable to risk losing. Planters experienced high death rates among European workers due to diseases and harsh conditions, leading to a reliance on African slavery, which they deemed more resilient to the conditions of agricultural labor. The European indentured servants often agreed to work for a period, typically four to seven years, in exchange for transport and the promise of land or a new life, but due to high mortality rates, not all managed to fulfill their indenture contracts. Additionally, European immigrants were often used in urban centers and for jobs that required a level of skill, competing with native workers for wages and conditions, which could lead to tensions within the labor market.