What were the purposes of the Black Codes enacted by Southern states during Reconstruction?

Question

A. to restrict the rights of African Americans and prevent them from achieving economic independence

B. to help former slaves learn new trades and provide help to them and their families

C. to prevent state governments from infringing on the rights of African Americans or preventing them from voting

D. to punish former slaveowners and restrict their ability to own property

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

A. to restrict the rights of African Americans and prevent them from achieving economic independence.

The Black Codes were laws passed in Southern states during Reconstruction aimed at limiting the freedoms of African Americans and ensuring their availability as a cheap labor force, thereby maintaining the social and economic hierarchy that existed before the Civil War.