"Hundreds of thousands of British and Irish men, women, and children crossed the Atlantic during the seventeenth century as indentured servants. Many had agreed to serve for four years, but large numbers had been trafficked or "spirited away" or were sent forcibly by government agenci...

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Bibliographic Details

Main Author:	Suranyi, Anna 1967- (Author)
Format:	Book
Language:	English
Published:	Montreal ; Kingston ; London ; Chicago McGill-Queen's University Press [2021]
Series:	States, people, and the history of social change 4
Subjects:	Geschichte 1600-1700 Zeitarbeit Kolonie Unfreier Großbritannien Indentured servants / Great Britain / History / 17th century Indentured servants / Great Britain / Social conditions / 17th century Contract labor / Great Britain / History / 17th century Slave labor / Great Britain / History / 17th century Contract labor Indentured servants Slave labor History Great Britain
Online Access:	Inhaltsverzeichnis
Summary:	"Hundreds of thousands of British and Irish men, women, and children crossed the Atlantic during the seventeenth century as indentured servants. Many had agreed to serve for four years, but large numbers had been trafficked or "spirited away" or were sent forcibly by government agencies as criminals, political rebels, or destitute vagrants. In Indentured Servitude Anna Suranyi provides new insight into the lives of these people. The British government, Suranyi argues, profited by supplying labour for the colonies, removing unwanted populations, and reducing incarceration costs within Britain. In addition, it was believed that indigents, especially destitute children, benefited morally from being placed in indenture. Capitalist entrepreneurs who were influential at the highest levels of government made their fortunes from Atlantic trade in goods, indentured servants, and slaves, and their participation in the servant trade contributed to the commercialization of criminal justice. Suranyi breaks new ground in showing how indentured servitude was challenged: once in the colonies, indentured servants adapted resourcefully to their circumstances and rebelled against unfair conditions and abuse by suing their masters, by running away, or through outright revolt. Emerging ideas about race and citizenship led to vehement public debate about the conditions of indentured servants and the ethics of indenture itself, prompting legislation that aimed to curb the worst excesses while slavery continued to expand unchecked."--
Item Description:	Includes bibliographical references and index
Physical Description:	xiv, 278 Seiten Illustrationen
ISBN:	9780228006688 9780228006671