Who were the Black Codes and how did they impact Southern societies?

The Black Codes were laws enacted in the Southern United States after the Civil War, aimed at restricting the rights and freedoms of newly freed African Americans. These codes enforced racial segregation, limited economic opportunities, and imposed harsh penalties for behavior deemed unacceptable by white authorities. The impact on Southern societies was significant, as they institutionalized racial discrimination, perpetuated economic dependency, and fueled tensions between black and white communities, ultimately laying the groundwork for the Jim Crow era.