Consider the difficult work that Sarah and Robert had to do, as well as how many years they worked. Do you think that this is fair? Is indentured servitude fair, even if someone agrees to it? Why or why not?
In my opinion indentured servitude is not fair. It can be unfair to people because no matter when they started they are free when they turn 21. The indentured servants weren’t always treated fairly. Some kids were forced into indentured servitude. Although some kids agreed to it, they didn’t know the conditions they would be working in.
This system wasn’t fair to the younger children. Older children worked for fewer years than younger children. In the article “Bound For a New Life”, Robert worked for nine years while Sarah worked for seven years. Robert came over when he was 12 and Sarah came over when she was 14. They both became free at age 21.
They were not treated fairly. The text stated that Sarah was beaten by her master’s wife. It said,” His wife was a mean-spirited woman who beat me for the smallest mistake.” The article stated, “My clothes became ragged my belly was never full.” In the paragraph, it said, “I existed mostly on corn gruel, peas, and a little bread. But if you are lazy or dishonest, or you try to run away, your life will not be easy.”
Some kids were kidnapped and forced into indentured servitude. Robert’s story said, “One terrible night, two men grabbed and told me I was going to Virginia, like it or not.” They took him because the Virginia planters needed workers so they were rounded up and sent to Jamestown to work for Virginia Company. Others were children who were taken against their will—kidnapped or tricked into service.
However, some kids willingly signed up to go to America. In the article, it said that her family was poor and one day in 1622, when she was 14, a man offered her a chance to sail to America. “America is the land of opportunity for a poor girl like you,” he claimed.“Just work a few years in Virginia to pay for your passage on the ship, and then you’ll be free to make your own life.” She listened and thought and finally decided to sign the papers.
Based on the text, my opinion is that indentured servitude is not fair. The younger a child was, the longer the child worked. They weren’t treated well. Some kids were kidnapped and others agreed to do it. Indentured servitude was not fair regardless if they agreed to it or not.
