Black Codes In 1800s

Question

Identify two black codes restrictions placed on African Americans then describe how each negatively impacted the lives of American Americans

Answer 1

One black code required that freed black slaves must be employed.. If not they were guilty of vagrancy. In Mississippi this meant a $150.00 fine. While that may not seem like a lot in today's dollars it certainly was back in 1866 when the law was passed. If a freed black didn't have a job how was he supposed to pay the fine? This also was a way to keep the freed blacks economically depressed. It kept them in poverty and didn't really allow them to attain a better life.

The same can be said about laws that forbade freed blacks to learn how to read and write. Again without an education ex slaves couldn't become let's say doctors or lawyers. So again economic advancement and better life were denied ex-slaves.