Changes and Continuities over Time: Labor Systems in Latin America and the Caribbean 1750-1914

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Changes and Continuities Over Time: Labor Systems in Latin America and the Caribbean 1750-1914 Change is inevitable. There will always be change. A prime example of this cliché are the changes and continuities of labor systems in Latin America. Over time slavery, servitude, wages, and gender roles altered the way of work in Latin America from 1750-1914. In the beginning, slavery was the most popular labor force in both Latin America and in Caribbean plantation, whom were mostly Africans brought by the Atlantic Slave Trade. Through time slavery declined through abolition movements, but many plantation owners secretly kept slaves. By 1914, indentured servants were most popular in plantations and slavery was nearly non-existent. Another change that occurred was that after indentured servitude became and alternative to slavery, it was argued that it wasn’t much better. Eventually, wage labor in cities was industrialized and wage workers were given the ability to gain power. A final change that occurred was the increase of women in the workplace. In 1750, female slaves weren’t preferred due to physical weakness. Through time more women were involved when female house servants arrived. Eventually, women were hired to work in textile factories. With changes in the labor changes, there were also continuities. One of these continuities is the use of foreign workers. Whether people were sold or came there on their own, they were a big part of the labor system. People came as slaves, servants, or just as immigrants. Another continuity was the preservation of the hacienda system. The hacienda system is a system of land holdings that was present in the early 17th century and stayed through 1914. Through time Latin America and the Caribbean’s labor system changed dramatically from it’s roots of the ownership of another person, the replacement of servitude, the

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