Who were people who signed contracts to work without wages in return for transportation to the New World known as?

Who were people who signed contracts to work without wages in return for transportation to the New World known as?

• A. Apprentices
• B. Laborers
• C. Serfs
• D. Indentured servants

Answer: (D)

Indentered servitude describes people who signed a contract to work for a set number of years in exchange for passage to the New World. They did not earn wages during that term; instead, their voyage was paid for, and after completing the contract, they could receive freedom and sometimes land or tools as a reward. This arrangement was a common way to meet labor needs in the colonies before slavery became more dominant, especially for European migrants. This term fits best because it directly captures the contract-based, wage-free labor tied to migration. Apprentices are bound to learn a craft and usually have different terms and compensation, serfs are tied to land under feudal obligations, and laborers is too general and not specifically about migration or a fixed contract for passage.

Indentered servitude describes people who signed a contract to work for a set number of years in exchange for passage to the New World. They did not earn wages during that term; instead, their voyage was paid for, and after completing the contract, they could receive freedom and sometimes land or tools as a reward. This arrangement was a common way to meet labor needs in the colonies before slavery became more dominant, especially for European migrants.

This term fits best because it directly captures the contract-based, wage-free labor tied to migration. Apprentices are bound to learn a craft and usually have different terms and compensation, serfs are tied to land under feudal obligations, and laborers is too general and not specifically about migration or a fixed contract for passage.