User:CurtLee CH/sandbox

Is this how it should be formatted?

I’m not sure if I’m filling in holes because some of this has been addresses already am I doing this right?

What else should I add to give a more complete feeling

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.

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. 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.

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.

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.