What was the main purpose of the Black Codes?

The main purpose of the Black Codes was to restrict the rights of African Americans and maintain a labor force. After the Civil War and the emancipation of enslaved individuals, Southern states implemented the Black Codes to control the newly freed African American population. These laws aimed to limit their freedoms and opportunities, ensuring that they remained dependent on white landowners for employment.

The Black Codes enforced various restrictions, such as barring African Americans from certain jobs, requiring them to sign labor contracts that were often exploitative, and denying them the right to vote or testify against white people in court. By doing so, the Southern states sought to preserve the economic and social hierarchy that had existed before the war, thereby continuing the subjugation of African Americans. This system effectively created a cycle of poverty and reliance, similar to the conditions of slavery, while attempting to prevent any significant social or political change resulting from their newfound freedom.