Final answer:
The Virginia Hereditary Slave Law was passed in 1662, stating that the status of a child followed that of the mother, entrenching slavery for generations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Virginia Hereditary Slave Law, decreeing that children of slave mothers "shall be bond or free according to the condition of the mother," was passed in 1662. This law meant that the legal status of all children born to enslaved women would be determined by their mother's status as a slave, perpetuating the institution of slavery through subsequent generations. The law played a critical role in the development of racial barriers and the socioeconomic structure of the colonies.