Of the Servants and Slaves in Virginia

 Why do you think that the document makes such a strong distinction between the male
and female slaves and servants?
 How effective were the legal rights granted to indentured servants?
 Are the concessions given at the end of the document a reflection of reality at this time?
Why or why not?

In 1619, the first Africans arrived in Virginia. They did the same working as the
white counterpart. Due to there was not any law to be distinction by the race. They
all were called the servants. Some Africans proselytized to Christianity became free
landowners with white servants. After Charles II was King in England. He pursued to
establish English control of the area between Virginia and Spanish Florida. After the
population migrated to Virginia in 1663, they devoted tobacco plant. The tobacco
was quickly coming the primary export in Virginia. Therewith, the local planter
needs a lot of the low-cost labor. The mass deerskins and Africans were traded in
Virginia.

The statue of African in Virginia was changed to be the chattel slavery occurred
in the last decades of the seventeenth century. Virginia passed a law in 1680
prohibiting free blacks and slaves from bearing arms, banning blacks from
congregating in large number. Two years later, all Africans defined the slaves for life
who belong to the colony. Robert Beverley who was a Virginia planter in that period.
His article is the primary source appearing indeed the statue of the slave society.
Help me to understand the above questions:

Robert Beverley gave the define of Slave – they are the Negroes who following
the condition of the Mother race. Because of the whole life servitude, they are
called Slaves. Also, he explained the Servants only serve for a few years. Generally,
the Servant starts working until 24 years old as per the law. But if the Servant begins
working at Nineteen, they only could servants for the term of five years which must
be judged into court. The servant’s right was protected under the law. Even the
male servants and slaves devoted working in the ground, but they took different
cloth and food.

The sufficient distinction is made between Female –Servants and Slaves. The
female Servants only work at home, if not, the Master bears the heaviest Taxes upon
Female Servants working in the Ground according to the law. All other white women
 are exempted. Because the white woman never asked to work in the Ground. This is
a strong racial class distinction. But the Female slaves were besides, she works in the
ground as the male slave.

The Master must pay a fee or Reward to Servants with the exception of free food,
cloth, and lodging which follows the law. Under the law, the servant’s working injury
was protected. The Court can remove the Servants immediately to another Master
due to the former Master disobey an order. After Servant finishes the indentured to
get the freedom, the master must give the grain; 4 cloths and all respects Servant
take up fifty Acres or Eight. Servants can free select the inhabitant.

I don’t think this is Master or Planter agree with those laws. Because of those
prescribes were protected with the servants’ right. Due to that law, Colonial Virginia
chose the cheap sleave to make the great profit. To alleviate class tension between
rich and poor white, the colony created a system of racial slavery in Virginia which is
the greater leave to control over the black African Slave.

Reference:

Robert Beverley, The History and Present State of Virginia (1705).

http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/bdorsey1/41docs/59-bev.html