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Indentured servitude was most popular in the early Virginia colony in the 1600s, when many workers were needed to farm tobacco.  But a violent uprising by indentured servants in the Virginia colony, known as Bacon's Rebellion, made indentured servitude unpopular.

Indentured servitude was most popular in the early Virginia colony in the 1600s, when many workers were needed to farm tobacco.  But a violent uprising by indentured servants in the Virginia colony, known as Bacon's Rebellion, made indentured servitude unpopular.

The term "indentured" comes from the type of legal contract that the employer and employee would sign, obligating the employer to pay the cost of passage across the Atlantic and provide room and board while the servant was obligated to work for up to seven years.

The term "indentured" comes from the type of legal contract that the employer and employee would sign (an indenture), obligating the employer to pay the cost of passage across the Atlantic and provide room and board while the servant was obligated to work for up to seven years.