Final answer:
The Black Codes were laws enacted by southern states after the Civil War to restrict the rights and freedoms of African Americans. They denied basic rights to freedmen, limited their mobility, and created exploitative farming contracts. The codes aimed to maintain racial hierarchy and control over black labor.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Black Codes were laws enacted by southern states in the period after the Civil War to restrict the rights and freedoms of African Americans. These codes were based on the pre-emancipation Slave Codes and aimed to maintain racial hierarchy and prevent integration of races.
The Black Codes had a significant impact on African Americans and their freedom. They denied basic rights to freedmen, such as the right to bear arms, vote, serve on juries, and own property. The codes also limited their mobility and imposed exploitative farming contracts, effectively reestablishing control over black labor.
Overall, the Black Codes served to maintain the social and economic structure of racial slavery, undermining the rights and freedom of African Americans.