A system of labor prevalent in the colonial era, primarily in North America, involved individuals contracting to work for a set period, typically four to seven years, in exchange for passage to the New World, as well as room and board. These individuals, often from Europe, sought opportunities unavailable to them in their homelands and agreed to the terms of service to gain access to land and a new life. For example, a young Englishman might agree to work on a tobacco plantation in Virginia for five years in return for transportation, food, clothing, and the promise of land upon completion of the contract.
This labor arrangement provided a crucial source of manpower for the burgeoning colonies, particularly for labor-intensive agricultural endeavors. It addressed the chronic labor shortages that plagued the early settlements, offering a cost-effective alternative to enslaved labor, at least initially. Furthermore, it presented a pathway for impoverished Europeans to escape economic hardship and social constraints, offering the prospect of eventual land ownership and social mobility in the colonies. This system directly impacted the social and economic structure of colonies, shaping land ownership patterns and social hierarchies.
