Center for Technology and Teacher Education - Social Studies Module: Jamestown Economy

Runaway Indentured Servants

Procedures:

Students can refer to the student worksheet
1. The teacher will introduce the topic of owners' perceptions of indentured servants versus slaves by having students respond to a journal question on the topic:
Example: Compare and contrast indentured servants and slaves. Consider some of the following issues in your answer:
What were their lives like?
What skills did they have?
What difficulties did they have adjusting to life in America?
2. Students will look at selected ads, all of which describe escaped indentured servants accompanied by escaped slaves. As students view the ads, they will take notes using the accompanying worksheet. Each student, or group of students, should look at several of the selected ads. The teacher may wish to allow students to search for additional relevant ads.
3. Students will attempt to draw conclusions as to owners' perceptions of slaves versus their perceptions of indentured servants, based on these ads.
4. Students may present their conclusions, which should answer the question, "How did owners perceive slaves, compared to how they perceived indentured servants?" in a persuasive essay, in an oral presentation, or in a role play/debate, in which students agree to argue different points of view.

Center for Technology and Teacher Education, University of Virginia. This module was created by Anthony P. Dralle of the University of Virginia.