Question

Under the definition of occupation code, what does the word "limitation" refer to?

1) The maximum number of characters allowed in an occupation code
2) The minimum number of characters required in an occupation code
3) A restriction or constraint on an occupation code
4) The format in which an occupation code is written

Answer 1

The 'limitation' in occupation code refers to restrictions in the post-emancipation labor codes that defined the rights, earnings, and bindings of labor agreements, aiming to keep a subservient workforce.

Step-by-step explanation:

The word “limitation” in the context of occupation code refers to the restrictions placed within the codes, particularly during the post-emancipation era in the South. The codes sought to establish norms for labor agreements between employers and laborers, often seeking to preserve a labor force that was subservient. The contracts outlined under these codes would specify the working hours and wages, but also included limitation clauses for apprenticeships.

These clauses gave the master control over the apprentice’s earnings and allowed for children of freed people to be bound out by the state. Moreover, individuals without employment could be compelled into service for up to a year. The codes thus served to limit the economic freedom and upward mobility of freedpeople by legally binding them to employers under conditions that heavily favored the employer over the employee.