Black Codes During The Reconstruction Era

“The Black Codes”
Although the Union (North) was victorious in the civil war and gained the freedom for millions of slaves, African Americans were blind to the effects to come. African Americans would face a new attack of obstacles and injustices during this time of the Reconstruction era. The Black Codes passed by the new southern government; which attempted to help regulate the lives of former slaves, but because of the lenient reconstruction policy’s lead by president Andrew Johnson white southerners were able to reestablish these civil authority’s they once had through the Black codes. The Black Codes were designed to restrict the activity of freed slaves and guarantee their convenience as a labor force now that slavery was abolished by the 13th amendment.
The Black codes were a set of laws that white southerners used to control black citizens even after the passing of the 13th,14th, and 15th amendment. Freed slaves had restrictions and were prohibited to the right to vote, forbidding them the right to sit on juries, limiting them the right to testify against white men, caring weapons in public, and working in certain occupations. As stated by Forner “Clearly, the death of slavery did not automatically mean the birth of freedom” (570). It took more than just the winning of a war to gain the freedom of African Americans. Even with the 13th,14th, and 15th amendment African Americans still received the same treatment before the passing of the amendments. It was all paper, but no one practiced it in reality. it wasn't until 100 years later (civil rights movement) where the African Americans actually fought for their rights. If these amendments were actually practiced I believe we would of had our first black president back then instead of the 21st