American Centuries

Pocumtuck Valley
Memorial Association

American Centuries > Lessons > History Lessons By Teachers > Indentured Children of the Eighteenth Century

Indentured Children of the Eighteenth Century

Details

Author
Mary Farrin
Topic/Subject Area
Slavery, Indenture
Historical Era
Colonial settlement, 1620–1762, Revolutionary America, 1763–1783, The New Nation, 1784–1815
Grade Level
Elementary (K–5)
Creation Date
Last Revision Date
2024

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About This Lesson

Summary and Objective

Students will understand that indentured servitude in the eighteenth century was a legal practice. Students will examine the contracts that described the responsibilities of both the servant and the master. Students will discuss what was included and what was not included in these legal contracts.

Materials & Resources

Collection Items

Teaching Plan

  1. Working in groups of 3 or 4 students will read at least three of the primary documents.
  2. Each group will make a list of the responsibilities of both the indentured and master including the timeline of indentured servitude.
  3. Once the lists of responsibilities are complete each group will share their findings with the entire class on large chart paper. The chart paper can be set up as a T-chart with the servant on one side and the master on the other.
  4. The following questions will be on separate sheets of chart paper; What do you notice about the responsibilities of both servant and master? How might the servant benefit from this relationship How might the master benefit from this relationship? What problems might the servant have as a consequence of this relationship? What problems might the master have as a consequence of this relationship?
  5. Student groups will rotate around to each chart adding their ideas to each.
  6. Once all groups have completed the activity each chart will be shared with the class. A few students can be responsible for reporting out on each chart.
  7. The next step will be to list things that are not mentioned in the contracts that might be important to both the servant or the master. For example, is there any opportunity for time off?
  8. Using details from the primary documents each group will imagine that they are one of the indentured children and will write a letter to either request unwritten privileges or change in their indentured status. Extension Activity: Using details from the primary documents students may wish to create a political cartoon, or write an article for a newspaper describing their opinion of the practice of the indentured servitude of children.