jan 1, 1865 - Black codes

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Black codes were numerous restrictive laws that have been passed by several Southern states in order to curb garantueed rights of African Amricans, after the abolition of slavery, and to retain them as cheap labor force. The first Black codes were enacted in Mississippi and South Carolina in 1865. It was common practice to force African Americans into labor contracts to make them available e.g. on plantations. If they left before their contracts have ended, harsh penalties were imposed, such as forced plantation labor, assignment of wages or arrest.

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