Megan Tracey 19
Slavery and Indentured Servants
Slaves and indentured servants were two things that a people were a long time ago in New
Jersey. A person who was a slave was owned by another person. A person who was an indentured
servant is someone who agreed to work. They have things that are the same. But they also have some
differences.
Slaves and indentured servants both went on a ship to get to New Jersey. The indentured
servants had a nice room. They were also well fed on the trip. But the slaves were chained to the
basement of the ship. They also were poorly fed on the trip.
They both worked for a long time. But slaves and indentured servants worked for a different
amount of time. The indentured servants worked for 3-7 years. The slaves would work for life. The
slaves could also work for a year then be traded.
They both lived with a family. But they lived with the family in a different way. The indentured
servants lived in the house with the family. Indentured servants also worked with the family. The slaves
lived in the family’s barn or shack. The slaves also did all the family’s chores.
You can tell that the indentured servants and slaves had some things that were the same and
different. You can also tell the slaves had a hard life. But the indentured servants had a good life. They
both went on a boat, worked, and lived with a family. I hope you liked learning about slaves and
indentured servants and how their lives were.