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 significantly driven by the need to create a dependable and cheap workforce. As the demand for labor increased due to the expansion of tobacco and other cash crops, plantation owners sought a solution that would provide them with a sustainable labor force. Enslaved Africans became the preferred choice because they could be forced to work indefinitely, with their offspring also becoming enslaved, thus creating a system of generational bondage.

This transition from a system that included temporary indentured servitude to one that relied on racial slavery was influenced by several factors, including economic interests and the inability of indentured servitude to meet the growing labor demands of the plantations. The reliance on enslaved people allowed plantation owners to maximize profits and ensure a steady, controllable workforce that was crucial for agricultural success in Virginia.

In contrast, while the expansion of land for plantation agriculture, increased migration of European settlers, and the development of the triangular trade were relevant events during this period, they did not directly lead to the establishment of a permanent enslaved workforce in the same way that the quest for a dependable and cheap labor source did. The primary concern was about labor control and economic efficiency, which solidified the system of slavery that characterized Virginia