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Indentured Servants In Jamestown

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The first African Americans played the role of indentured servants in Jamestown. American slavery had taken root a few weeks after a legislative government was formed in 1619. The Spanish were the first ones to establish slavery in the new world. They formed a contract to pay 115,000 ducats in exchange for 3,000-5,000 Africans each year. There was a 50% mortality rate for African American survival during just the transportation. Only 147 survived out of the 350 Africans sent in the first group. Their deaths were due to starvation or illness aboard ship. There was little room on board and disease spread quickly (195). The Africans arrived in Jamestown during the tobacco season. Tobacco harvest was labor intensive, especially in comparison to corn and grain. …show more content…
Like the white indentured servants, they were eligible to regain their freedom after so many years of service. The only difference was that whites agreed to this of their own free will, whereas the Africans had no choice in the matter. They were not treated as equals to the white indentured servants and were considered a minority. In addition, there was no records of heredity slavery until the 1640’s. Many people question whether this is a lack of slavery or just a lack of records. However it is certain that some Africans won back their freedom eventually (197). For instance, a man called John Gowen won his freedom in 1641 after working as a servant for a farmer named William Evans. However, he had a child with an enslaved women owned by a lieutenant. While Gowen was given freedom, his child became a slave to the lieutenant. Gowen went on to profit from breeding hogs. He used this money to buy his child's freedom. Another example of a African becoming free is Anthony Johnson, who arrived in Jamestown in

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