In my opinion indentured servitude is not fair. It can be unfair to people because no matter when they started they are free when they turn 21. The indentured servants weren’t always treated fairly. Some kids were kidnapped and forced into indentured servitude. Although some kids agreed to it, they didn’t know the conditions they would be working in.

 

This system wasn’t fair to the younger children. Older children worked for fewer years than younger children. In the article “Bound For A New Life”,  Robert worked for nine years while Sarah worked for seven years. Robert came over when he was 12 and Sarah came over when she was 14. They both became free at 21.

 

They were not treated fairly. In the text, it stated that Sarah was beaten by her master’s wife. It said, “ His wife was a mean-spirited woman who beat me for the smallest mistake.” The article stated, “ My clothes became ragged; my belly was never full.”. It said, “ I existed mostly on corn gruel, peas, and a little bread.”. In the article, it stated, “ For seven years, I cleaned and cooked, washed and mended.” 

Some kids were kidnapped and forced into indentured servitude. In the article “Bound For A New Life” It stated, One terrible night, two men grabbed me and told me I was going to Virginia, like it or not.”. It said that children were a disgrace to the city and that they were begging on the streets.  It stated, “The men said that children like me were a disgrace to London, that our city was too full of orphans, begging and stealing on the streets.” They took Robert to Jamestown to work there and they were going to work for the Virginia Company. It stated, “The planters in Virginia needed workers, so we were being rounded up and sent to Jamestown to work for the Virginia Company.”.

However, some kids willingly signed up to go to America.  According to the article, it stated, “A man offered me a chance to sail to America.”. The man told Sarah to work for some years and then be free and make your own life. It stated, “Just work a few years in Virginia to pay for your passage on the ship, and then you’ll be free to make your own life.”.  She said she would sign the papers. It stated, “I listened, thought, and finally decided to sign the papers.”. 

 

Based on the text, my opinion is that indentured servitude is not fair. The younger a child was, the longer the child worked. They weren’t treated well. Some kids were kidnapped and others agreed to do it. Indentured servitude was not fair regardless if they agreed to it or not.