Final answer:
The laws that denied most rights to newly freed slaves and prohibited them from various social and civic engagements after the Civil War were known as the Black Codes. These laws sought to maintain the social and economic structure of racial slavery and set the stage for Jim Crow laws, which enforced racial segregation until the mid-20th century.
Step-by-step explanation:
Laws Restricting Freed Slaves After the Civil War
The discriminatory laws passed in the southern states following the Civil War that sought to limit the freedoms and civil rights of newly freed slaves were known as the Black Codes. These laws aimed to restrict African Americans' rights to vote, serve on juries, own or carry weapons, and more, effectively maintaining a system akin to slavery. They also led to the establishment of vagrancy laws, which were used to control black labor and were a precursor to the later Jim Crow laws enforcing racial segregation.
In addition to the Black Codes, Jim Crow laws were enacted at the end of the 19th century, leading to widespread segregation and disenfranchisement of African Americans in the South. These laws mandated segregation in public schools, accommodations, transportation, and other public places, further entrenching racial inequality. Despite the Thirteenth Amendment's prohibition of slavery, these laws continued to oppress African Americans, denying them the full rights of citizenship and contributing to a legacy of racism and discrimination.