Hillary's historian refutes Sanders claim that this country is "created on racist principles".

[blackspade]

243. Indentured servitude was a palatable term for whites in bondage

But make no mistake, they were effectively slaves with a few more rights.
There were important differences though that you rightly point out.
However, many of these 'servants were mistreated and some could never get out of their terms due to extensions or having to work off additional debts incurred with the head of the household.
Many fled the Eastern cities for the frontier, where the threat of Indian or French attacks were preferable to perpetual bondage.

I do want to clarify that indentured servitude, while effectively making people slaves, was distinctly different and significantly less horrid than chattel slavery. I was merely pointing out that people in bondage were the hands that forged this nation, just as much or more that the folks that we read about in history texts.