What were the black codes?

Answer 1

In the South following the Civil War, the white governments sought to avoid losing economic and political power to the newly freed slaves. The Black Codes were laws enacted in 1865 and 1866 to reduce the rights of blacks.

Under the Codes, they were not allowed to vote, to hold office, or to serve on a jury. They were also not guaranteed any sort of public education. In effect, their rights under the Constitution and the Bill of Rights were being denied.

The Black Codes led to further exertion of power by the North, which demanded that states ratify the 13th and 14th Amendments before being allowed to regain their representation in Congress. Military rule was established and new Republican governments soon repealed the Black Codes.

Although they were ruled unconstitutional, the Black Codes were soon supplanted by the Jim Crow laws, so that the separate-but-equal doctrine allowed states to continue to repress their black populations for another century.

In addition, attacking the Black Codes were a high priority for Congress. The Civil Rights Act of 1866, was a step towards this goal.