Bonded labor refers to a contract between two persons under which one person worked not for money, but to repay the contract or loan for a set period of time.
Indentured slavery was popular in the United States in the 1600s when people, mostly European immigrants, worked in exchange for fares to America.
Bonded labor was not slavery, as people entered into contracts of their own free will.
“However, indentured servants could be sold, rented, or bequeathed, at least for the duration of their contract.