User:CurtLee CH/Black Codes (United States)

Reconstruction

After the Civil War reconstruction occurred attempting to mend the rift caused by the war and to integrate former slaves back into society. This was a failure and met with major backlash that ultimately created systems to keep former slaves under oppression. These events are what lead to the creation of the black codes after the emancipation proclamation.

Black codes were broad variety of different laws that were passed in many states to keep newly freed slaves from moving around and leaving their former masters. There was no specific law that is called the black codes but a variety of different laws each different depending on what state you reside in. Even after reconstruction ended in 1877 many laws from the black codes were also implemented into the Jim Crow laws.

Black Codes

Black codes were laws implemented after emancipation in order to keep former slaves tied down to low wage and labor jobs so that they were effectively in the same position as before. This was because there was a major shortage of workers after the slaves left their plantations and it was the government's job to deal with them. So a quick solution to the problem was to create laws that would position them in the same places. These laws were passed in 1865 and 1866 in southern states as a replacement to the slave codes since slavery was banned. Northern states also enacted their own black codes to keep former slaves from moving to their states and keep them in the south. They were denied may different rights such as the rights to vote, public education, and equal treatment under law. Black codes created a society where slavery was still legal it was just under another name so to the law it wasn’t seen as slavery.

States

Every state had its own laws that didn’t specifically state that they were targeted against blacks but in practice were meant to oppress the black population. States like mississippi which was the first state thag  implemented these laws that would still promote slavery for minors that if they kept minors with them as apprentice ships they must treat them humanly and provide food and clothing for their stay and pay the state to keep them. These minors would be kept as indentured servants as males could be held until they are 21 and females until they are 18. Vagrancy laws also existed where blacks without a residence or jobs could be arrested, fined, and be forced into labor if they were unable to pay for the fine. Depending on the state and its stance before the civil war and the freedom of blacks as well as the population density of blacks the severity of the codes would vary.

South Carolina

South Carolina also had labor laws were black “servants” would work for white masters be given wages and the length of service would be agreed upon and witnessed and signed by a judge. Then the worker was not allowed to leave the premises live on the property and was not allowed any visitors without permission. Being sick would also deduct from the worker as time lost that week. Workers under the age of 18 were allowed to be whipped to discipline them and those over the age of 18 would need a judge’s orders to be allowed to.

Florida

Laws were enacted that also kept people of color from gaining any help from the law such as Florida’s general provisions in article XVI that would disregard and prevent blacks or people of color from testifying in court for criminal charges against them. It also didn’t require people to testify as a witness to the court essentially allowing any white person to do whatever they wanted to the black community without any repercussions. In the same article section 3 it also states that all of the jurors be white men of qualifications as prescribed by the law. This means that all legal actions that blacks could take would be nullified in court and if even if they would be able to make a case the jury would already contain only whites of biased views and vote against the blacks who are pressing charges or defending themselves.

North Carolina

`	North Carolina's codes were most likely some of the less severe codes that were implemented but still denied many fundamental rights especially any representation or fairness in the government. North Carolina denied blacks the right to vote and serve on juries to keep them from testifying against whites. Many of these codes were enforced by unorganized and uncontrolled militia groups of whites.

Citations

“Andrew Johnson.” Restricting Freedom of Ex-Slaves ***, Siteseen Limited, 9 Jan. 2018, www.american-historama.org/1866-1881-reconstruction-era/black-codes.htm.

Campbell, Annie, et al. “Excerpts from Florida State Constitution [Florida's ‘Black Codes’] (1865).” US History Scene, ushistoryscene.com/article/excerpts-florida-state-constitution-floridas-black-codes-1865/.

Harris, William C. “Black Codes.” NCpedia, www.ncpedia.org/black-codes##targetText=Approved%20in%201866%20after%20a,one%20year%20before%20the%20purchase.

Mississippi Black Codes (1865), www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/mississippiblackcode.html. “The Black Codes.” The Black Codes, www.u-s-history.com/pages/h411.html.

“The Black Codes.” The Black Codes, www.u-s-history.com/pages/h411.html.

''Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Black Code.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 20 Aug. 2019, www.britannica.com/topic/black-code.''

''Costly, Andrew. “Southern Black Codes - Constitutional Rights Foundation.” Southern Black Codes - Constitutional Rights Foundation, www.crf-usa.org/brown-v-board-50th-anniversary/southern-black-codes.html.''

''Ferris Uni. “Black Code.” Black Code - Other Jim Crow Information - Jim Crow Museum - Ferris State University,''