Indentured Servants:
1. Voluntary Agreement: Indentured servants entered into a legal agreement, or indenture, with an employer for a specific period of time, usually ranging from several years to seven years. This contract outlined the terms of service, including the specific tasks to be performed and the conditions of work.
2. Limited Term of Service: Once the agreed-upon term was completed, indentured servants were entitled to their freedom and were released from their obligations to the employer.
3. Legal Protections: Indentured servants had certain legal protections, such as the right to proper treatment and access to basic necessities. If the employer violated these rights, the indentured servant could seek legal remedies through the court system.
4. Wages or Freedom Dues: At the end of their service, indentured servants were often entitled to receive a payment or "freedom dues" from the employer, which could be in the form of money, land, or goods.
5. Eventual Freedom: While indentured servitude had elements of forced labor, it was generally seen as a temporary condition that eventually led to freedom.
Slaves:
1. Permanent Servitude: Slaves were considered property and were subjected to permanent servitude. They had no legal rights or protections and were entirely at the mercy of their masters.
2. Lifetime Service: Slaves were bound to their masters for their entire lifetime and could not legally obtain freedom without their consent.
3. No Right to Compensation: Unlike indentured servants, slaves were not entitled to any compensation for their labor or contributions.
4. Forced Labor: Enslaved individuals were forced to work in various capacities, often under harsh conditions and without any choice or control over their labor.
5. Inherited Status: The status of enslavement was inherited by children born to enslaved mothers, perpetuating the cycle of slavery across generations.
6. Dehumanization: Slaves were often denied basic human rights, treated as commodities, and subjected to physical, emotional, and psychological abuse.
In summary, indentured servants were bound to a specific term of service, had legal protections, and were entitled to eventual freedom. In contrast, slaves were subjected to permanent servitude, denied basic rights, and had no legal recourse to obtain freedom. The fundamental difference lies in the fact that indentured servitude was a temporary condition leading to freedom, while slavery was a lifelong condition characterized by complete loss of personal liberty.