1865

Black Codes Enacted Across Southern States

Multiple Southern States, US

Black Codes Enacted Across Southern States

Black Codes Enacted Across Southern States

Between 1865 and 1867, Southern state legislatures dominated by former Confederates enacted Black Codes that severely restricted freedpeople's rights. These laws barred Black Americans from voting, holding office, serving on juries, owning firearms, or attending public schools, while forcing them into coercive labor contracts. The codes aimed to …

Open full entry →