Which of the following best describes the system of slavery in the first few decades of the American colonies?

Indentured servants became enslaved after four to seven years.
Africans could not work as indentured servants; they were only enslaved.
Enslaved people were enslaved for life, but their children were born free.
Both Africans and whites worked as indentured servants, not as slaves.

Indentured servitude refers to a system of labour in which servants worked between four and seven years in exchange for passage, room and lodging. Poor Europeans entered into these contracts hoping to find a better life in the Americas. Although indentured servitude was similar to slavery, it was a lot less restrictive. When servants were released, they were often granted land, crops and cattle.

This system began in the decade following the establishment of Jamestown, and it remained a significant part of the colonies for the first few decades of their existence. Initially, Black Africans were treated as indentured servants as well. However, as their numbers started to grow, slave laws were passed, and Black people lost their freedom completely. This was a much more profitable way of acquiring cheap labour, which meant that indentured servitude declined and slave labour increased.