Indentured Servitude: Unfree Labour and Citizenship in the British Colonies

Indentured servitude was a significant part of the Atlantic slave trade in the 17th century. It involved British and Irish men, women, and children being transported to the Americas as servants for a fixed period of time. The government profited from this system by providing cheap labor for the colonies, removing unwanted populations, and reducing incarceration costs. Entrepreneurs made fortunes from the trade, and their participation in it contributed to the commercialization of criminal justice. Servants adapted to their circumstances and rebelled against unfair conditions, leading to public debate and legislation aimed at curbing the worst excesses while slavery continued to expand.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 01 July 2021
Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press

Indentured servitude was a significant phenomenon in the seventeenth century, involving hundreds of thousands of British and Irish men, women, and children who crossed the Atlantic Ocean to serve as servants in the colonies. While some individuals had willingly agreed to serve for four years, many others had been trafficked, forcibly removed, or sent by government agencies as criminals, political rebels, or destitute vagrants. This practice, which emerged as a solution to labor shortages in the colonies, was heavily influenced by the British government's desire to profit from supplying labor, reduce unwanted populations, and reduce incarceration costs in Britain.

At the same time, it was believed that indentured servitude could benefit the moral development of destitute children. Capitalist entrepreneurs, who held influential positions in government, made substantial fortunes through the Atlantic trade in goods, indentured servants, and slaves. Their involvement in the servant trade played a significant role in the commercialization of criminal justice.

Anna Suranyi's book, "Indentured Servitude," offers a fresh perspective on the lives of these individuals. Suranyi argues that the British government exploited indentured servitude for its own benefit, while also benefiting from the cheap labor it provided for the colonies. She also highlights how indentured servants adapted to their circumstances in the colonies and rebelled against unfair conditions and abuse through various means, such as suing their masters, running away, or engaging in outright revolt.

The emergence of new ideas about race and citizenship during this period sparked a vigorous public debate about the conditions of indentured servants and the ethics of indenture itself. This debate led to legislation aimed at curbing the worst excesses of indentured servitude while slavery continued to expand unchecked.

In conclusion, indentured servitude was a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that played a significant role in the history of the British Empire and the colonies. While it was initially seen as a solution to labor shortages, it soon became a tool of exploitation and abuse. Suranyi's book provides valuable insight into the lives of indentured servants and their struggles against unfair conditions and exploitation. It also sheds light on the broader social and political implications of indentured servitude and its impact on the development of race and citizenship in the seventeenth century.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780228006688