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The Pros And Cons Of Indentured Servants

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Item #1, painting of 17th century English being transported to the colonies as Indentured Servants
By 1617, tobacco was a booming and successful crop for the colonists. The first commercial shipment of tobacco to England was in 1617 and the tobacco sold for a very lucrative price. However, tobacco was very labor-intensive crop and the colonists were experiencing a shortage of labor to grow and cultivate their crops. Land in the colonies was cheap and readily available and most colonists preferred to own and work their own land rather than working for someone else; thus the importation of indentured servants. Approximately 80% of those immigrating to the Chesapeake during the 17th century came to the colonies as indentured servants. …show more content…

Congress mandated that paper money be issued and accepted in lieu gold and silver coins and specie-backed notes. The government promised to redeem the bills and their value was dependent on public confidence in the government. Many thought this promise of backing the bills was about as good as the green ink printed on one side, hence the name "greenbacks." The paper money depreciated in terms of gold and became the subject of much controversy, particularly because debts contracted earlier could now be paid in this cheaper currency. Even though there were issues with the currency, this was the first attempt at a national currency for the United States. (Sources: PowerPoint lecture discussion May 4, American Promise, Vol 1 to 1877, page 448, and Civil War Financing, 1861-
1865, http://www.taxhistory.org/www/website.nsf/)

Item #12, photo of Wilmer McLean’s home at Appomattox Court House, 1865
This site is significant in that the first Civil War battle occurred within ¼ mile of this house and on April 9, 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union Lieutenant
General Ulysses S. Grant, essentially ending the Civil War. Lee sent a messenger to

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