Why would white Southerners pass laws that controlled the movement of African Americans? What would happen if African Americans left the South in huge numbers?
White Southerners passed laws that controlled the movement of African Americans because they wanted to maintain control over the labor force and limit African Americans’ opportunities for social and economic advancement. This was done through black codes and Jim Crow laws, which restricted African Americans’ access to education, voting, and employment opportunities.
If African Americans left the South in huge numbers, it could potentially lead to major economic disruptions and labor shortages because they made up a significant portion of the agricultural and industrial workforce. This could also potentially lead to increased racial tensions and violence as white Southerners felt threatened by the loss of their labor force and attempted to maintain their power and control over the region.