PRIMARY SOURCE ANALYSIS (minimum 1,000 words – 4 pages)

Question

French political philosopher Louis Sala-Molins called the 1685 “Code Noir”: “the most monstrous legal document of modern times”. It regulated the lives of millions of enslaved persons in the French colonies.
Slavery was abolished in France by the revolutionary government on February 4, 1794. The decree stated: “The Convention declares the slavery of the blacks abolished in all the colonies; consequently all men irrespective of color living in the colonies are French citizens and shall enjoy all the rights provided by the Constitution.” Unfortunately, none of the implementing measures were taken, and slavery was reinstated by a decree of July 16, 1802, while Napoleon Bonaparte was First Consul. It was definitively abolished by a decree of April 27, 1848,
Read through the articles of the Code and evaluate the measures you believe to be the most egregious, particularly given that the document was officially drafted to protect the slaves. What are your impressions of how Europeans saw Black people prior to the Enlightenment and the Age of Revolution?

essay in detail 4 pages

Answer 1

The “Code Noir” of 1685, also known as The Black Code, was a set of regulations governing the lives of enslaved persons in the French colonies. It was a notoriously cruel document that aimed to control and exploit the enslaved population for the benefit of the colonizers. French political philosopher Louis Sala-Molins went as far as to call it “the most monstrous legal document of modern times,” and with good reason. The Code contained numerous measures that were dehumanizing, brutal, and completely unjust.

One of the most egregious measures in the Code was the provision that allowed for the separation of enslaved families. Enslaved individuals were considered property rather than people, and families could be torn apart at the whim of their owners. Children could be taken from their parents, spouses could be sold to different plantations, and siblings could be separated indefinitely. This policy not only caused immense suffering and pain to the individuals involved, but it also served to break down familial bonds and erode any sense of community or support among the enslaved population.

Another heinous aspect of the Code was the harsh punishments that were inflicted on enslaved persons for even minor infractions. Enslaved individuals lived under constant fear of physical punishment, which could range from whipping to branding to mutilation. The Code also permitted the use of torture as a form of punishment, allowing owners to brutally punish their enslaved workers for disobedience or perceived insubordination. This created a culture of fear and intimidation among the enslaved population, ensuring their compliance through violent means.

Furthermore, the Code regulated every aspect of the daily lives of enslaved individuals, from their clothing and food to their housing and working conditions. Enslaved persons had no autonomy or agency over their own lives; they were mere property to be used and abused at the discretion of their owners. The Code established a strict hierarchy based on race, with white colonizers at the top and enslaved Black individuals at the bottom. This reinforced the dehumanization of Black people and justified their exploitation and mistreatment.

The “Code Noir” is a stark reminder of the deeply ingrained racism and prejudice that pervaded European society in the pre-Enlightenment and pre-Revolution era. Black individuals were seen as inferior, subhuman creatures who were fit only for servitude and exploitation. The Code reflected the pervasive attitudes of the time that Black people were inherently lesser beings, unworthy of the same rights and dignity afforded to white Europeans. This dehumanization and othering of Black individuals served to justify the brutal system of slavery that was enforced in the French colonies and perpetuated the cycle of oppression and inequality.

In conclusion, the “Code Noir” of 1685 was a reprehensible document that regulated the lives of enslaved individuals in the French colonies in a cruel and inhumane manner. The provisions of the Code that allowed for the separation of families, harsh punishments, and complete control over every aspect of the lives of enslaved individuals are particularly egregious and demonstrate the depths of dehumanization and exploitation that were inherent in the system of slavery. The Code reflects the deeply entrenched racism and prejudice that characterized European attitudes towards Black people prior to the Enlightenment and the Age of Revolution, and serves as a stark reminder of the atrocities committed in the name of colonialism and imperialism.