History 1301 - Section 3 of Part 2 - Lecture Notes

Overview

• Focus on historical misconceptions about Pilgrims and Native Americans.
• Discussion on the indentured servant program and its role in paving the way for slavery in America.

Pilgrims and Native Americans

• Common school narrative: Pilgrims and Indians as friends, shared crops, Thanksgiving feast.
• Reality: The Indian tribe also needed Pilgrims and their weapons to fight another tribe.

Indentured Servant Program

• Developed in Europe to bring workers to American colonies.
• Plantation owners and colonists sought European laborers.
• Europeans had passage paid in exchange for 7 years of service.
• Contracts were signed; work often hard and brutal.
• Some servants ran away or eventually acquired land and became landowners.
• Program was short-lived due to perceptions of inhumanity.

Transition to Slavery

• Indentured servant program opened door to slavery.
• First slave ship to America was brought by pirates, slaves traded for supplies.
• Slave labor became preferable to plantation owners for lifelong ownership compared to 7-year indenture.

Slavery in America

• Slavery already existed when the indentured servant program began.
• All nations have histories of slavery; many people today descend from slaves.
• Slavery is described as a "terrible, wrong, bad institution."
• Misconception addressed that slaves were treated well; reality was abuse and mutilation.

Impact of Slavery

• Slavery set to become a major issue as America expands.
• Future discussions about slave vs. free states.
• Brief mention of Thomas Jefferson's ideas on slavery to be covered in future lectures.

Conclusion

• Indentured servant program's role as a precursor to slavery.
• Upcoming lectures will delve deeper into these historical dynamics.