Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam

What was the status of indentured servants in colonial America?

1. They were paid workers with contracts

2. They were obliged to work for a set number of years to pay off their passage

3. They were free individuals who chose to migrate

4. They were primarily employed in skilled trades

The correct answer is: They were obliged to work for a set number of years to pay off their passage

Indentured servants in colonial America had a specific status characterized by a contractual obligation to work for a certain number of years in exchange for their passage to the New World. This system was a solution to the labor shortages faced by colonial planters and was prevalent primarily from the early 17th century into the 18th century. Indentured servants typically signed contracts stipulating the duration of their servitude, which usually lasted from four to seven years. During this time, they worked for landowners in exchange for their passage, shelter, and food. Once they completed their terms, they were often granted "freedom dues," which might include land, money, or goods to help them start their own lives as free individuals. While other options touch upon aspects of labor and migration, they do not accurately represent the nature of indentured servitude. For instance, indentured servants were not free individuals who chose to migrate in a conventional sense, as their journey was bound to their servitude contract. They could not be classified as paid workers since their compensation was indirect and based on future promises, and they were not primarily involved in skilled trades; rather, they were mostly engaged in agricultural labor, which required less skill and could be performed by laborers who were