In this lesson from Unit 2: Colonial America, students examine the labor systems that developed in the American colonies, including indentured servitude, slavery, mercantilism, and the Atlantic trade system. The lesson explores how labor became essential to colonial economic growth while also examining the human impact of slavery and forced labor in Colonial America.

The lesson begins with a historical overview explaining that slavery existed long before Colonial America and had appeared in many civilizations throughout world history. Students are encouraged to study slavery within its historical context while also recognizing that slavery and human trafficking still exist in parts of the modern world.

Students then investigate indentured servitude as the first major labor system used in the English colonies. The lesson explains how i ...