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Involuntary Labor In Colonial America

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Involuntary Labor In Colonial America
The practice of involuntary labor in Colonial America operated from the early 17th century to late 18th century. The two most popular forms of involuntary labor were indentured servitude and slavery. Often indentured servants are of European origin either carrying out their sentences or paying off their passages. The Experience of Bondage: Gottlieb Mittelberger’s account, 1754, was written by a German schoolmaster about his voyage to Philadelphia as an indentured servant. In his account, he describes the horrid conditions faced by voyagers from the tightly packed spaces, sickness and the purchasing process of servants. At the same time, the labor system of slavery was in practice. The advertisement of runaway slaves in the sections, Wanted:

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