Which statement accurately describes the slavery in the American colonies in the early 1600s?
A. Slavery did not legally exist so the Africans were initially treated like indentured servants.
B. Enslaved people were first brought to the Massachusetts Bay Colony to provide labor for plantation owners.
C. The first enslaved people that arrived in the colonies were transported from present day Ethiopia.
D. Enslaved people were initially Western Europeans that worked plantations growing cotton, tobacco, and sugar cane.
Which statement accurately describes the slavery in the American colonies in the early 1600s?
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The correct answer is A. Slavery did not legally exist so the Africans were initially treated like indentured servants.
In the early 1600s, slavery as a legally defined institution did not yet exist in the American colonies. Many Africans who were brought to the colonies were treated similarly to indentured servants, working for a set period before gaining their freedom. Over time, laws began to change, leading to the formalization of racial slavery. If you have more questions or need further explanation, feel free to ask!