The Black Codes Of The Reconstruction Era

The Black Codes of the Reconstruction Era were a set of discriminatory laws imposed on newly-freed African Americans in Southern states, with the intention of limiting their freedom and opportunities. These codes served as a means for white people to maintain their power and racial superiority, as they imposed restrictive measures such as denying Black people the right to own property, criminalized minor offenses, and limited their access to white settlements. The Black Codes represented a regression of freedom and a continuation of oppression for African Americans, even after slavery had officially ended. With this said, the Black Codes of the Reconstruction Era represent a contraction of freedom for African Americans, as they imposed restrictive

In Southern states, white people maintained their power by limiting the right of free Black people to testify in court. According to a Black code set in Tennessee in 1865, “No negro shall be a competent witness in any case where a white person is a party.” This policy was a clear demonstration of white supremacy, restricting the legal rights of African Americans and preventing them from being able to dispute any wrongdoings from white citizens in the justice system. This limitation of rights further highlighted the oppressive nature of the Black Codes, which were designed to maintain the social and economic power of white people in the South. It was an extremely effective way of upholding an unequal power dynamic, where whites had the power. This law reinforced the notion that white people were superior to Black people in the eyes of the law, thus creating a systemic issue of racial inequality in the Reconstruction era. By banning Black people from voting in 1870, the Florida Black codes also set a major path for racism during Reconstruction. They stated, “No freedman, free Negro, or mulatto shall have the right to vote at any election provided for by the laws of this State.” By banning Black people from voting in 1870, the Florida Black Codes made it clear that African Americans still did not have the same rights as white people, even after emancipation. Not only did this deny Black people the right to vote and participate in their own government, it also served as a powerful reminder of the oppression they had suffered and continued to suffer. The language used in the codes demonstrates a clear attempt to frame the Black Codes as an act of protection for white people and an attempt to prevent African Americans from gaining any power or influence in the South. Ultimately, the Black