In the southern colonies of North America indentured servitude was declining due to the arrival of slavery in the colonies and slaves who possessed many characteristics that would accelerate the rate of plantation production to a lower price. Indentured servants could repay their debts to plantation owners, but slaves had to remain with the plantation owners, as did their descendants. Slaves also proved to be better workers in the warm climate of the southern colonies, costs were cheaper, they were already skilled farmers, and easier to control. Southern plantation farming was difficult due to the amount of crops that needed to be harvested and harvested. the intense heat of the southern climate. African slaves were better suited to the heat due to their dark skin tone and were also skilled farmers. “A Negro man or woman shall account for a quarter of an acre a day” (Document C). A quarter of an acre a day was used to make furrows for planting rice in the plantations. Africans were skilled at planting rice and handled 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 would Americans purchase slaves? For slaves may be kept as long as a man desires, or has opportunity to work...” (Document H). “Be it enacted…all negro mulattoes and Indian slaves…shall be adjudged real estate and shall descend to the heirs and widows of the persons departing this life, according to the manner and custom of the land of inheritance, so held simple." (Document G). Purchasing slaves was different than purchasing indentured servants because slaves had to remain on the plantation and if slaves had children, they inherited a slave's life. Where... middle of paper... slaves had to be beaten and killed if they resisted working for their master. This demonstrated power and set the standard for other slaves to work to maintain their lives. "..[Mr. Bacon and his supporters] complain that great taxes are annually imposed upon them..." (Document F). Bacon's followers were indentured servants, and, because of the uprising of the poor in Virginia, the indentured servants they were becoming too difficult to control. Slaves on the other hand were easier to control. Slaves were proving to be better than indentured servants. In the southern colonies of North America, indentured servitude was decreasing due to the arrival of slavery in the colonies. slaves who possessed many characteristics that would speed up the rate of plantation production at a lower price They were easier to control, cheaper, and already knew how to farm and handle the southern heat