What was a key factor that led to the establishment of permanent bondage for blacks and their offspring in Virginia?

The establishment of permanent bondage for blacks and their offspring in Virginia was heavily influenced by the creation of a dependable and cheap workforce. The colonial economy, particularly in the Southern colonies like Virginia, was largely reliant on labor-intensive cash crops such as tobacco. As the demand for these crops grew, plantation owners sought a labor force that would be both affordable and reliable over time.

The transition from indentured servitude, which was temporary and came with an end date for servitude, to lifelong slavery for blacks ensured that plantation owners had a consistent labor supply without the need to continually invest in new labor contracts. This shift allowed for the commodification of enslaved people, transforming them into an asset that could be passed down, thereby establishing an institution of permanent bondage and enslavement that would persist for generations. Consequently, the economic motivations of plantation owners played a critical role in entrenching the system of slavery in Virginia.