The Black Codes were unfair laws passed in Southern states after the Civil War.

They were created to control newly freed African Americans.

These laws limited their rights and tried to keep them in a low position in society.

Black Codes were different in each state, but they all tried to take away freedom.

Black Codes were passed right after the Civil War, starting around 1865.

They were mostly used in the former Confederate states in the South.

Each state wrote its own set of rules, but they had similar goals.

This happened during Reconstruction, when the country was trying to rebuild.

White leaders in the South were angry that slavery had ended. They wanted to keep control over Black people and their labor. Plantation owners still needed workers for their farms. Black Codes were a way to keep African Americans poor and powerless, even without slavery.

Some Black Codes said Black people had to sign work contracts each year. Others said they could not own guns or serve on juries. Some laws made it illegal for Black people to be “unemployed” or “lazy.” If they broke these laws, they could be fined, arrested, or forced to work.

Black Codes controlled where African Americans could live and work. They often had to accept low‑paying jobs on farms or as servants. They could be punished for small things that white people were not punished for. This made everyday life stressful, unfair, and dangerous.