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Enrique Angulo’s post on September 28, 2016 titled, “Treacherous Places”, explains the high hopes Europeans had for the rivers in the Americas, but that upon arrival, they were severely disappointed. Angulo said, “In reality these expeditions proved to be quite treacherous in more ways than one.” I feel like misconceptions of American prosperity was something that spanned many centuries. The seventieth century brought rise to indentured servitude in the Americas. Many Europeans who found themselves indentured servants did so out of despair or coercion. Indentured servitude was made out to seem like a great thing in order to kick start a future in the Americas for a person who could not afford to pay their way. Unfortunately, like the rivers for early European explorers, indentured servitude was often treacherous. They were often underfed, beaten, and mistreated.
The main difference between African slaves, Native American slaves, and indentured servants is the concept that indentured servants were allowed to file claims in court against their masters. These claims were not always seen as important because the council was made up of masters who often owned their own slaves and indentured servants. Other than that, indentured servants often worked side by side with slaves, given similar tasks to complete. I find it interesting to think that Native American slaves, African slaves, and indentured servants often worked side by side in the same fields. This chapter advises me that the phasing out of Native American slavery, and the onset of adopting African slavery intertwine. In much literature regarding African slavery, Native Americans and indentured servants are not mentioned. In reality Europeans were struggling to find labor due to drastic decreases in the population of Native American slaves due to disease. The Native American slaves were slowly replaced by African slaves and indentured servants.
Egerton, Douglas, Alison Games, Donald R. Wright, Kris E. Lane, Jane G. Landers. The Atlantic World: A History, 1400-1888. Wheeling, IL: Harlan Davidson, 2007.