Juneteenth

Quote: missedhervee

Beign a serf or an indentured servant, as most Europeans once were, was tantamount to slavery.

I researched a bit on serfdom because it is one of those weird subjects that grabbed my attention. While serfdom was just a notch better than slavery, serf conditions varied and the further east you went the worse it was for them, with Russia treating them about the worst. Technically, even the personal possessions of a serf were property of their lord. But serfs were not supposed to be sold like slaves unless the land was sold.

The company towns I mentioned were virtual serfdom. You could not own land, you did not get paid in actual money. You were bonded to the area. It was just debt and no other possibilities not law.