Indentured servitude was a labor system prevalent in the 17th and 18th centuries, where individuals agreed to work for a specific number of years in exchange for passage to the New World, food, and shelter. Many of these workers were poor Europeans seeking better opportunities, and they signed contracts that bound them to their employers. After completing their term, indentured servants often received "freedom dues," which could include land, money, or tools to help them start their new lives. While it provided a way for some to immigrate, the system was exploitative, with many servants facing harsh conditions and limited rights.