By the end of the 17th century, freed indentured servants either...?

Question

a)often returned to england b)had little choice to but to hire themselves out for low wages to their former master c)rarely returned to work for their masters d)often gained great wealth as more land opened for settlement I've researched it rather extensively, but I can't seem to find a conclusive answer to my question. Anyone think they can help?

Answer 1

I'd say B -

b)had little choice to but to hire themselves out for low wages to their former master

An indentured servant is a form of debt bondage worker. The laborer is under contract of an employer for some period of time, usually three to seven years, in exchange for their transportation, food, drink, clothing, lodging and other necessities.

Unlike a slave, an indentured servant was required to work only for a limited term specified in a signed contract.

A major problem with the system of indentured servitude was that in many cases, an indentured servant would become indebted to their employer, who would forgive the debt in exchange for an extension to the period of their indenture, which could thereby continue indefinitely. In other cases, indentured servants were subject to violence at the hands of their employers in the homes or fields in which they worked.

Answer 2

I think all of them apply.   Some former indentured servants did well for themselves, others had dreadful lives.  Apparently about a quarter of them died before they finished their indentures.

According to Gail collins in 'America's Women', a couple called Johnson who were indentured servants were probably the first African Americans.  They arrived somet time before 1620 as indetured servants, and once they earned their freedom they acquired a 250-acre farm and five indentured servants of their own.  But many others were not so fortunate.

Answer 3

people became indentured servants because they couldn't afford to get to the America's on their own.  they signed a legal contract that bound them to their master for a term of service that was around 7 years in order to pay off their debt.  many times the after landing in America the master would put the contract up for sale and sales were much like slavery.  some were subjected to harsh treatment such as beatings and for many their debts were increased by their masters for such things as food and clothing.  this led to extended their periods of service, sometimes indefinately.  laws prohibited a servant from running away and were similar to runaway slave laws.  the law bound the master to feed and clothe them and at the end of service the master had to give the servant a new suit of clothes, or money.  in some cases the servant gained work experience much like an apprentice would and went in to the sam eline of work they had previously served in.  i'm sure they many went to work for their previous masters, but many also went on to do other things.  there is no conclusive answer to the question because there were so many that did different things, but those are some examples of treatment and laws.