User:Stealthfox

Why Did Slaves Replace Indentured Servants As The Labor Force In the Caribbean?

Indentured servants stopped coming to the islands in the 1600's because the islands were deadly to the whites. The African slaves that were brought over by the Dutch in the 1640's introduced new diseases of which the whites had no immunity. No matter where the whites came from, whether it was from Europe or Africa the diseases were to much for them, however; the blacks fared far better than the whites to adjusting to the climate.

Anoher reason whites chose not to come to the islands is because of the reputation the planters gained as being "cruel masters" and because emancipated slaves did not have a good opportunity to find good paying jobs once they were set free, and they certainly did not have any chance in owning their own plantations. More and more black slaves were being trained as skilled workers which further reduced the opportunity for whites to get jobs, along with the fact the blacks were cheaper to purchase than the whites.

By far the greatest reason that indentured servants were being replaced by black slaves is because of the reputation that the islands had of all o fthe misfortune and death that the whites endured. Black slaves didn't have a choice and had to come to the islands whether they wanted to or not. Meanwhile the whites found it easier in north america with the climate and future possibilities to get jobs or own property.