Question

question 17
2 pts
why did slavery replace indentured servitude in the colonies as time went on?
indentured servants often rebelled violently.
indentured servants left plantations at the end of their servitude.
slaves were more intelligent and could be easily trained to undertake plantation jobs.
it cost the planters almost nothing to use slaves.

Explanation:

To determine why slavery replaced indentured servitude, we analyze each option:

• "Indentured servants often rebelled violently": There's no strong historical evidence that this was a primary reason for the shift.
• "Indentured servants left plantations at the end of their servitude": Indentured servants had a fixed term of service (usually 4 - 7 years). Once their term ended, they gained freedom and often left the plantations, which meant planters lost their labor force. This created a need for a more permanent labor source, which slaves (who were considered property and had no end to their "service") provided.
• "Slaves were more intelligent and could be easily trained to undertake plantation jobs": There's no basis for the claim that slaves were more intelligent, and intelligence wasn't a factor in the shift.
• "It cost the planters almost nothing to use slaves": While slaves were an investment (purchase cost, maintenance), the claim of "almost nothing" is inaccurate. Planters still had to provide food, shelter, etc., for slaves.

So the key reason is that indentured servants left after their servitude ended, making slavery (with lifelong, inheritable labor) more attractive for a permanent labor force.

Answer:

B. Indentured servants left plantations at the end of their servitude.