Which system involves a temporary labor contract typically for a specific period of time?

The system involving a temporary labor contract typically for a specific period of time is indeed indentured servitude. This practice emerged primarily in the 17th and 18th centuries as a means to recruit labor, especially in the Americas. Individuals, often from Europe, would agree to work for a set number of years—commonly four to seven—in exchange for passage to the New World, food, shelter, and sometimes the promise of land or resources upon completion of their service.

Indentured servitude allowed for the influx of labor needed to cultivate cash crops and develop settlements while also providing the servant some semblance of freedom after fulfilling their contract. This system contrasts sharply with chattel slavery, where individuals were considered property without rights or the possibility of freedom. The encomienda system, utilized by the Spanish in the Americas, involved the forced labor of indigenous populations without the contractual nature of servitude, leading to severe exploitation and hardship. Contractual labor may seem similar but often refers to broader agreements that do not fit the historical context of the temporary labor arrangements typical of indentured servitude.

Thus, indentured servitude is the correct choice, highlighting its historical significance as a transitional labor model between voluntary migration for work and more permanent forms of labor exploitation seen