Question

REPORT: SLAVE CODES Here is your goal for this assignment: Write a report summarizing the slave codes in the United States Slave laws, called slave codes, varied in detail from state to state but were generally restrictive and negative, and strengthened during periods of increased abolitionist activity. Slaves that broke any of the laws or codes were tried in regular courts or slave tribunals. The usual punishment for an infraction was whipping; but branding, imprisonment, or execution were the punishments for more serious offenses. Use an encyclopedia, the Internet, or other sources to research the slave codes and write a 500 word report. Do not limit yourself to the following questions; they are offered as guidelines. Questions to address may include: What specific restrictions were placed on slaves? Were the same restrictions placed on free blacks? How did free blacks respond to the slave codes? What did abolitionists do in response to the slave codes? When and how did the codes change? When and how were slave codes eliminated?

Answer 1

Slave codes were laws that governed the lives of enslaved people in the United States. These laws were enacted by individual states and varied in detail from state to state. However, they were generally restrictive and aimed at maintaining the institution of slavery and ensuring that enslaved people remained in bondage.

Slave codes imposed a number of restrictions on enslaved people, including restrictions on their movements, their ability to own property, and their ability to enter into contractual relationships. For example, many slave codes prohibited enslaved people from traveling without written permission from their owners and made it illegal for them to learn to read or write.

Free blacks were also subject to many of the same restrictions as enslaved people, although they were not officially considered to be property. Free blacks often faced discrimination and were often subject to the same punishments as enslaved people if they broke the slave codes.

In response to the slave codes, abolitionists worked to raise awareness about the injustices of slavery and to bring an end to the institution. Abolitionists used a variety of tactics, including public speaking, writing, and organizing, to advocate for the rights of enslaved people and to challenge the laws and policies that upheld slavery.

The slave codes changed over time as the abolitionist movement gained momentum and as the institution of slavery came under greater scrutiny. During the antebellum period, many states strengthened their slave codes in response to the growing abolitionist movement. However, the end of the Civil War and the abolition of slavery marked the end of the slave codes in the United States.

The elimination of the slave codes did not bring an end to discrimination and inequality for African Americans, however. Despite the end of slavery, African Americans continued to face discrimination and segregation in many areas of life, including education, housing, and employment.

In conclusion, the slave codes were a set of laws that governed the lives of enslaved people in the United States and imposed a variety of restrictions on their freedom and mobility. The slave codes were challenged by abolitionists who worked to bring an end to slavery and to secure equal rights for African Americans. The end of the Civil War marked the end of the slave codes in the United States, but the struggle for equality for African Americans continued for many years thereafter.