In the southern colonies of North America, indentured servitude was in decline due to the arrival of slavery in the colonies and slaves possessing many characteristics that would speed up the rate of plantation production at lower cost. Indentured servants could repay their debts to plantation owners, but slaves had to stay with their plantation owners, as did their offspring. Slaves also proved to be better workers in the warm climate of the southern colonies, costs were cheaper, they were already experienced farmers, and easier to control. Farming on southern plantations was difficult due to the amount of crops to harvest and control. the intense heat of the southern climate. African slaves were better adapted to the heat due to their dark complexions and were also experienced farmers. “One black man or woman must represent a quarter of an acre per day” (Document C). A quarter of an acre per day was used to dig furrows to plant rice in the plantations. Africans were experienced in rice planting and tolerated the heat and sun better than indentured servants and could do more work for less money. Benjamin Franklin commented on slavery by saying, “Why then will Americans buy slaves? Because slaves can be kept as long as a man wants or has the opportunity to work…” (Document H). “Be it enacted…all black mulattoes and Indian slaves…shall be judged on the real estates and shall descend to the heirs and widows of the persons departing this life, according to the manner and custom of the lands of inheritance, held in simple . (Document G). Purchasing slaves was different from indentured servants because the slaves had to stay on the plantation and if the slaves had children, the children inherited the life of a slave. Where...... middle of paper ......rs to beat and kill slaves if they resisted doing work for their master. This demonstrated power and set the standards for other slaves to work to survive. "..[Mr. Bacon and his supporters] complain that large taxes are imposed on them every year..." (Document F). Bacon's supporters were indentured servants and, due to the uprising of the poor in Virginia, the Indentured servants were becoming too difficult to control. Slaves, on the other hand, were easier to control than indentured servants. In the southern colonies of North America, indentured servitude was in effect. decline due to the arrival of slavery in the colonies and slaves having many characteristics that would speed up the rate of plantation production at a lower cost Being easier to control, cheaper and already knowing how to farm and. handle the southern heat, slaves were