Identify and State the Historical Significance of the Following

Chapter Four- Outline Guide

IDENTIFY AND STATE THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FOLLOWING:

indentured servitude: Indentured servitude was when white farmers came to the colonies under someone else's control but wasn't considered a slave. These people would receive transportation from their masters to get from England to the colonies, in return they would work for as long as they needed to in order to pay off their debt. Afterwards they were free to go off and try to make a life of their own. This service was important to the Tobacco colonies because in areas that the proprietors couldn't afford slaves and there weren't enough families members to work on the field the landowners would bring over these servants. Giving the landowners an extra hand, getting those poor farmers out of England, and increasing the population in the colonies.

slave codes: As more Africans were brought over to America people had trouble determining between an indentured servant and a slave. Virginia created the first version of slave codes- which declared that a slave was the property of their white owners. Depending on the different area different rules were enforced. Some areas didn't allow teaching the slaves to read or write. These codes helped to start the strictness and severity of slavery that would last in America for many years.

headright system: In Maryland and Virginia (two dominant areas for large plantations) there was a rule enforced that said anyone that brought over indentured servants would acquire 50 acres of land. This persuaded people to bring over more servants and helped to greatly increase the population in these areas.

middle passage: The middle passage was another name for the voyage that Africans suffered through as they began to be moved from Africa to the colonies. During these voyages, the slaves would be packed onto ships and forced to live in harsh conditions throughout the entire boat ride. When they finally arrived to the colonies, the situation wouldn't be any better. As they would go up for auction and be put to work in a plantation or household somewhere.

social structure: Social structure in the colonies was extremely important. This was a rank of people ordered by wealth, and job status. The order went from planters, to small farm owners, indentured servants, and then the Africans. This structure affected the people because it shows how people were arranged, classified and treated. The higher you were in the rank the better you were treated and more rights you reserved, while the Africans retained little to no rights, and were treated horribly.

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