Reconstruction after the Civil War was not successful. The purpose of Reconstruction was to address the serious problem of race in the South and provided protection to the freeman. Reconstruction had brought important social changes such as providing a public education system and a limited amount of political and legal power (Brinkley, 2012, p. 429). However these political and legal power where only held temporarily. New laws, such as the Mississippi Black Codes, promoted racial segregation and enforced a new labor system— specifically targeting freedmen, blacks, and mulattos—that was far worse than slavery was prior to the Civil War (Sage), (Blackmon).
After the war, the Southern economy took a turn for the worst. Many cotton fields were …show more content…
The Penal Code Section 2 states: “that any freedman, free Negro, or mulatto committing riots, routs, affrays, trespasses, malicious mischief, cruel treatment to animals, seditious speeches, insulting gestures, language, or acts, or assaults on any person, disturbance of the peace, exercising the function of a minister of the Gospel without a license from some regularly organized church, vending spirituous or intoxicating liquors, or committing any other misdemeanor t e punishment of which is not specifically provided for by law shall, upon conviction thereof in the county court, be fined not less than $10 and not more than $100, and may be imprisoned , at the discretion of the court, not exceeding thirty days” …show more content…
This fine must be paid off by the wages given by the master or mistress however “preference shall be given to the employer, if there be one, in which case the employer shall be entitled to deduct and retain the amount so paid from the wages of such freedman, free Negro, or mulatto” (Sage). This means that the master or mistress can withhold or diminish the Laborers wage and resulting in their prolonged or indefinite employment. In addition, if the labor has children and is not given enough income to support their children, this would subject the children to the Apprentice Law
After the war, the Southern economy took a turn for the worst. Many cotton fields were …show more content…
The Penal Code Section 2 states: “that any freedman, free Negro, or mulatto committing riots, routs, affrays, trespasses, malicious mischief, cruel treatment to animals, seditious speeches, insulting gestures, language, or acts, or assaults on any person, disturbance of the peace, exercising the function of a minister of the Gospel without a license from some regularly organized church, vending spirituous or intoxicating liquors, or committing any other misdemeanor t e punishment of which is not specifically provided for by law shall, upon conviction thereof in the county court, be fined not less than $10 and not more than $100, and may be imprisoned , at the discretion of the court, not exceeding thirty days” …show more content…
This fine must be paid off by the wages given by the master or mistress however “preference shall be given to the employer, if there be one, in which case the employer shall be entitled to deduct and retain the amount so paid from the wages of such freedman, free Negro, or mulatto” (Sage). This means that the master or mistress can withhold or diminish the Laborers wage and resulting in their prolonged or indefinite employment. In addition, if the labor has children and is not given enough income to support their children, this would subject the children to the Apprentice Law