On December 6, 1865 the US Constitution officially approved the abolishment of slavery in all 50 states. For centuries African American slaves were denied the necessities of education, humane working conditions, and freedom. As a result of the Civil War, the thirteenth amendment was passed, which finally recognized African American slaves as civilians. Unfortunately, in reaction to the emancipation, southern legislators instituted laws that restricted African American citizens from their basic rights.
Black Codes, known to some as "revival of slavery in disguise," limited African American's opportunities to become politically influential in the United States. In fact one code stated “that all freedmen, free Negroes, and mulattoes may sue …show more content…
Therefore allowing families to live together freely. A basic right that African Americans were inhumanely depleted of before the war. On a count, that slaves would be treated as objects, and sold away from their families to other plantations. Yet, the code also included that interracially marrying was illegal. Stating, "nor for any white person to intermarry with any freedman, free Negro, or mulatto; and any person who shall so intermarry shall be deemed guilty of felony" (Mississippi Black Codes). Because of the codes that prohibited the marriage between racially different citizens, discrimination progressed within America. Although the Black Codes possessed some civic rights, restrictions that were distributed by legislatures weighed in more influentially. Even though slavery was abolished, southerners persisted to keep African Americans as labor forces. In fact, if former slaves refused to sign yearly labor contracts established by the state risked being fined or imprisoned. The code stated that African Americans "with no lawful employment or business...shall be deemed vagrants; and, on conviction thereof" …show more content…
Despite the efforts of the constitution southern plantation holders still forced former slaves back into inhumane working conditions. Many African Americans ended up sharecropping on land owned by their former master. Unfortunately, black farmers were only allowed to purchase equipment for sharecropping from shops their master’s owned, therefore driving them into debt. The main goal southerners were determined to accomplish was to keep African Americans at the political, economic, social status they possessed before the Civil War. The south continued to support discrimination even when the constitution pursued to abolish it. The Black Codes allowed them to achieve that objective by stripping African Americans of the little rights they
Black Codes, known to some as "revival of slavery in disguise," limited African American's opportunities to become politically influential in the United States. In fact one code stated “that all freedmen, free Negroes, and mulattoes may sue …show more content…
Therefore allowing families to live together freely. A basic right that African Americans were inhumanely depleted of before the war. On a count, that slaves would be treated as objects, and sold away from their families to other plantations. Yet, the code also included that interracially marrying was illegal. Stating, "nor for any white person to intermarry with any freedman, free Negro, or mulatto; and any person who shall so intermarry shall be deemed guilty of felony" (Mississippi Black Codes). Because of the codes that prohibited the marriage between racially different citizens, discrimination progressed within America. Although the Black Codes possessed some civic rights, restrictions that were distributed by legislatures weighed in more influentially. Even though slavery was abolished, southerners persisted to keep African Americans as labor forces. In fact, if former slaves refused to sign yearly labor contracts established by the state risked being fined or imprisoned. The code stated that African Americans "with no lawful employment or business...shall be deemed vagrants; and, on conviction thereof" …show more content…
Despite the efforts of the constitution southern plantation holders still forced former slaves back into inhumane working conditions. Many African Americans ended up sharecropping on land owned by their former master. Unfortunately, black farmers were only allowed to purchase equipment for sharecropping from shops their master’s owned, therefore driving them into debt. The main goal southerners were determined to accomplish was to keep African Americans at the political, economic, social status they possessed before the Civil War. The south continued to support discrimination even when the constitution pursued to abolish it. The Black Codes allowed them to achieve that objective by stripping African Americans of the little rights they