Final answer:
Plantation owners preferred white servants and African slaves over American Indian workers due to the threat of uprising, susceptibility to diseases, and a deficit of skilled labor among the Indians.
Step-by-step explanation:
Plantation owners in the Americas preferred white servants and African slaves over American Indian workers for several reasons.
Firstly, the Indians posed a threat of uprising due to their knowledge of the land, making it easier for them to escape.
Secondly, the Indians had no resistance to diseases brought in by the Europeans, which led to high mortality rates.
Lastly, there was a deficit of skilled labor among the Indians, making them less desirable for the plantation owners.