what were slave codes
state laws to control slaves
conduct standards slaves held themselves to
state laws to expand slavery
national laws to limit slavery
Slave codes were state laws in the United States that regulated the institution of slavery and controlled enslaved people. These laws varied by state but generally aimed to bolster the power of slaveholders and maintain control over enslaved individuals.
Slave codes included various provisions, such as:
1. Maintaining enslaved individuals as chattel property: Slave codes established that enslaved people were legally considered property, with no rights or personal autonomy. This meant that they could be bought, sold, or inherited, and their labor belonged to their owner.
2. Restrictions on movement and assembly: Enslaved individuals were often subject to curfews and restrictions on their mobility. They required written passes from their owners to travel outside the plantation or gather in groups.
3. Prohibition of literacy and education: Slave codes commonly forbade enslaved individuals from learning how to read and write. This restriction aimed to suppress intellectual development and limit the dissemination of ideas that could challenge slavery.
4. Limitations on marriage and family: Slave codes sometimes restricted enslaved individuals from legally marrying or forming stable families. Enslaved couples could be separated if their owners desired, and children born to enslaved parents were also considered property of the owner.
5. Cruel punishments and control mechanisms: Slave codes permitted owners to discipline their enslaved individuals through physical punishments like whipping, branding, or even amputation. These punishments aimed to enforce obedience and deter resistance.
Contrary to the conduct standards that enslaved individuals held themselves to, which varied widely given the diversity of their cultures and backgrounds, slave codes were state laws created to control, oppress, and maintain the institution of slavery. They sought to expand the power of slaveholders and reinforce the subjugation of enslaved individuals.
National laws, on the other hand, largely addressed the expansion or limitation of slavery on a larger scale. For example, the Missouri Compromise of 1820 aimed to maintain a balance between slave and free states by prohibiting slavery in some regions while allowing it in others. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 made it a federal crime to assist escaped enslaved individuals and mandated their return to their owners, thus expanding the reach of slavery. Finally, the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 and the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1865 were national laws that limited and abolished slavery, respectively.
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Sure! Let's focus on the first option:
Slave codes were state laws in the United States that regulated the institution of slavery and controlled enslaved people. These laws were designed to bolster the power of slaveholders and maintain control over enslaved individuals. They included provisions such as defining enslaved people as property, restricting their movement and assembly, prohibiting literacy and education, limiting marriage and family, and allowing for cruel punishments. These codes were intended to oppress and maintain the institution of slavery, rather than being conduct standards held by enslaved people themselves.