White Cargo: The Forgotten History of Britain's White Slaves in America

White Cargo chronicles Britain's long-running practice of forcibly transporting white laborers to colonial America between the 1600s and 1800s. The authors present evidence that many of these workers lived and died in conditions comparable to chattel slavery. Through extensive research and historical records, Jordan and Walsh trace the evolution of this labor system from its origins in England through its implementation across the American colonies. The book examines the methods used to acquire workers - including kidnapping, deception, and the forced transportation of convicts and children. The narrative follows key historical figures and events while documenting the experiences of transported laborers in Virginia, Maryland, and other colonial territories. Primary sources and court documents help reconstruct the reality of life for these indentured servants and forced laborers. The work challenges conventional narratives about colonial American labor systems and raises questions about how history remembers different forms of bondage and exploitation. Its examination of class, power, and human commodification resonates with contemporary discussions about labor and human rights.

Readers found the book revealed lesser-known aspects of indentured servitude and forced labor in colonial America. Many noted it filled gaps in their historical knowledge and challenged assumptions about early American labor systems. Readers appreciated: - Clear documentation and extensive research - Personal stories and case studies that humanized the history - Examination of legal and economic factors behind white servitude Common criticisms: - Writing can be dry and academic at times - Some sections feel repetitive - Title is potentially misleading - focuses more on indentured servitude than slavery Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (1,100+ ratings) Sample reader comment: "Eye-opening account but the authors sometimes get bogged down in details and lose narrative momentum" - Goodreads reviewer Another reader noted: "Important history but could have been more concise. The first third is strongest" - Amazon reviewer

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They Were White and They Were Slaves by Michael A. Hoffman This historical account documents the transportation and exploitation of impoverished Europeans through Britain's convict trade and indentured servitude system to Colonial America.

To Hell or Barbados by Sean O'Callaghan This text chronicles the forced deportation of Irish people to Caribbean plantations under Cromwell's regime and their lives as indentured laborers.

Bound Away: Virginia and the Westward Movement by David Hackett Fischer, James C. Kelly This study explores Virginia's role in colonial migration patterns, including the transportation of indentured servants and their impact on American settlement.

The Forgotten Slaves by Yvette Katan-Bensamoun and Robert Katan This historical account uncovers the enslavement of Europeans by North African pirates and the Ottoman Empire during the same period as the Atlantic slave trade.

📚 Many of the white indentured servants were children, some as young as 10 years old, who were kidnapped from the streets of London and other British cities in a practice known as "spiriting." 🔎 The term "kidnapping" actually originated during this period, specifically referring to the abduction of children ("kids") who were to be shipped to the American colonies as servants. ⚖️ While most indentured servants signed contracts for 4-7 years of service, many had their terms illegally extended, and only about 40% survived to see the end of their contract. 👑 Oliver Cromwell sold thousands of Irish prisoners of war into indentured servitude in the Caribbean and American colonies, considering it a more profitable alternative to execution. 🌍 During the 17th and 18th centuries, between 300,000 and 400,000 white Europeans were shipped to America as indentured servants, a number that rivals the African slave trade during the same period.