Compare and Contrast Essay on the Labor Forces in New England Colonies

Introduction

Slavery and indentured servitude was common practice in New England colonies. This was further made standard by the formulation of various laws that either helped increase slavery or reduce indentured servitude. In this article, a discreet contrast and comparison are given between the two. Also, the impact and presence of wage labor on both indentured servitude and African slavery. Therefore, this article seeks to clarify and shed more light on New England colonial times by comparing and contrasting African slavery, indentured servants, and wage labor.

Indentured servitude in the New England colonies was carried throughout most of the 1600s. This is despite the fact that it happened to phase out as the 1600s gave way to the 1700s. Indentured servitude was mainly practiced by whites who are preceding were not American by origin. It usually came into play when a foreigner, mostly whites seeking a new life in the Americas, got into an agreement, either voluntary or forced. This contract stipulated that they were in the employ of a master for a specified period. Their master could give them out to a third party or directly work under them, giving unfree labor, after which, at the expiration of the contract, the servants were free individuals. Occasionally, at the onset of their freedom, they were also given plots of land. The term unfree labor was hinged on the mode of payment to make the indentured servant free after completion of the contract. Usually, immigrants that got themselves in such an agreement were bound by debts or legal obligation.

African slavery relied on blacks mainly captured from war from primarily West Africa. These African slaves were brought by ship to the Americas and were tasked with working on sugar plantations in the eastern seaboard. Slaves were usually shipped to the Caribbean where their population grew with time. In the early 1600s, slavery was mainly Indian. This was changed in later times by the onset of colonization in Africa and the discovery of tobacco as a cash crop. This led to the increased need for labor in the plantations. This resulted in high numbers of people being captured as slaves and being sold off to slave ships. Upon arrival in the Americas, slaves were mass auctioned to work on different plantations, mainly sugar and tobacco.

Slavery was subject to varying conditions depending on the state at the time, and the masters one had. As is documented in some instances, slaves were subjected to work for a specific period that is, say throughout the lifetime of a plantation of a particular crop. The slaves were given food and shelter mainly in the form of living in cellars, barns or attics of their masters' homes. Pay was presented at the end of their servitude regarding their freedom. After gaining their independence, slaves were usually relocated to consolidation states where other freed black slaves were to start their own life. Specific laws were passed concerning freed slaves, giving them a few fundamental rights but not akin to powers of the whites. For example, the freed slaves were allowed to marry, own property, that is, other slaves and even plots, of land.

Towards the 1700s, slave freedom was abolished. This was due to the realization that one had to buy other slaves once the previous ones were free. This was also amidst stringent British laws that were outlawing slave trade through strict humanitarian regulations. New England colonists passed new laws that abolished freedom even for already free slaves (Middleton, Anne 15). This resulted in revolutions among blacks that ended up in bloodshed and black slaves losing all rights and were subjected to increased cruelty from their white masters. The new laws decreed that slavery was a matter of inheritance. A slave was bound to serve for his master till his death, upon which, his servitude would be inherited by his children who would go on with being a slave to their masters.

Wage labor was introduced between the 1600s and the 1700s. It had significant impacts, both good and bad. The onset of indentured servitude bounded one to slavery with pay. This was usually for those who were able to pay for their trips from Europe. This led to the growth of the colonial towns which were in dire need of skilled workers. Therefore, the indentured services that were not admitted into the plantains were able to learn craftsmanship and various trades such as carpentry and smithing thus bringing about a league of skilled workers. These skilled workers taught other laborers who in turn provided more service to the colonists thus were more valuable than the ordinary indentured servant.

Wage labor, indentured servitude, and African slavery had quite a few things in common. All three forms of work provided the Americas with an essentially needed labor force. America was a vast continent that faced a shortage of hands to adequately provide for its citizens, much less offer cash crops. Thus, the colonists that engaged in importing indentured servitude, or African slaves to work on the plantations, actively solved this problem. The Americas were thus able to meet the high demand for labor with a high supply of it from various areas throughout the world. By doing so, work was made available at different prices. A colonist would only have to choose what type of job they wanted, that is a manufacturer would opt for wage labor or indentured servants since they were more likely to be skilled in various areas, while a colonist farmer would more likely choose for African slavery since it was less costly as compared to the former two.

The varied skill set of the indentured servants and waged labor enabled the creation of industries. Since men were more likely to be admitted into the plantation and technical fields, it led to the creation of other industries that were varied to suit female gender. This led to the creation of trades such as sewing and baking that were mainly sidelined. Women who got themselves into indentured servitude were contracted into these industries to suit the supply and demand of commodities. Men who got recruited into indentured servitude and wage labor also charted the industry into new paths such as smithing, carpentry, building and gun making just to name a few. This, in turn, led to an increased skillset per group of laborers. Since colonists wanted various jobs done, and it was increasingly expensive to obtain new slaves, one opted to train current laborers or contract a set of skilled individuals for a specified number of years to carry out said jobs for them, thus saving costs and time.

Wage labor, indentured servitude, and African slavery increased relationships between people from different ethnicities. This was strengthened by the fact that they all worked in similar areas. For example, African slaves from different regions in Africa may have been bought by a similar colonist and ended up working on the same plantation. This then fostered a bond and unity, indentured servants from different areas in Europe may have been contracted to a similar colonist that working together may have encouraged an agreement amongst them. This unity enabled them to achieve various goals (Middleton, Anne 17). Wage laborer came together to consistently demand higher wages from the colonists, which they eventually got. The government had to make laws to cap the maximum wage rate which was still quite high and attractive. African slaves, on the other hand, came together to form benevolent societies that contributed funds for the burial of one of their members or in case someone was sick.

The forced or voluntary emigration of people into the Americas somewhat aided in the redistribution of highly populated areas. This enabled a more subsidized flow of demand and supply of goods and commodities throughout different societies. For example, first cities in Europe were overcrowded, and people were living in poverty. The possibility of a better life at the expense of servitude for a couple of years seemed to be a comfort for many people. Therefore, moving to the Americas was a logical option that decongested Europe, Africa and parts of India since most of the free labor given before Africa came from India.

It led to a marked increase in Christianity. Most of north Americas where the free labor and indentured servitude was taking place were highly religious. Most of the African slaves tasked with working on the plantations in North America were coerced into adopting Christianity as their religion in the hope of better working and living conditions. Some of the waged laborers were also forced into Christianity with the promise of a reduction in years of servitude. Eventually, the emigration of individuals from different parts of the world into America, to work as laborers led to increased diversity in the region. This is a common factor up until today, so many ethnicities and races migrated there in search of opportunities, which led to a permanent diversification of cultures throughout the Americas.

Despite all these comparisons, wage labor, African slavery, and indentured servitude had quite some different features. Slave labor compared from wage labor and indentured servitude in some ways; first of, slaves were viewed as arrogant, lazy and inexperienced. This created a hostile attitude toward African slaves. It was considered as a requirement that African slaves should be harshly supervised and owe that they were from harsher areas of the world, they did not deserve rights and comfortable living. They were viewed more as animals than human beings. Reports are given of African slaves in plantations being arrogant, unstable and self-sufficient. This then encouraged the colonists to be rather high handed towards the African slaves. The African slaves were mostly inexperienced and were thus viewed as suitable for working at plantations for the males while for the females, they were relegated to domestic duties such as weaving, cleaning, and taking care of children.

Because rights to slaves were abolished, it was viewed as a somewhat reasonable and lifelong wise decision. This meant that slaves did not have a right to freedom. Slavery was made into a hereditary condition. One had to serve a master up until his/her death. At which point the offspring will still be bound to that master. Unlike wage laborers and indentured servants, slaves were subjected to poor living and working conditions. Slaves allocated to a master were usually not more than three in case of small duties. Such slaves would be allocated attics and cellars as living and sleeping quarters while masters who acquired large numbers of slaves allocated barns for them to live in. Working conditions for slaves were also not favorable since a slave may have been given an expectation of what he/she is required to do. This was usually an overestimated amount of work without the right set of tools. This led to a high number of slaves running away or dying from exhaustion and overworking.

Servitude of slaves was based on capture. This meant that if one was captured at war, they were expected to be auctioned off as slaves. Colonists went on expeditions in West Africa to catch Africans and sell them as slaves. Unlike wage laborers and indentured servitude whose servitude was mainly voluntary or as a result of a legal obligation or debt binding one to a contract of servitude. Also unlike wage labor and indentured servitude, slavery was mostly made up of blacks of Negro descent. Wage laborers and indentured servants were primarily whites of European origin. Their modes of subjugation were primarily voluntary apart from few instances of forced contractual obligation.

Indentured servants were mainly made of mixed races and origins. This was for the reason that high wage rate give...