What did Slave laws in the southern colonies in the 1600s do?

Slave laws in the southern colonies during the 1600s established a legal framework that defined the status of enslaved individuals as property rather than people. These laws restricted the rights of enslaved people, prohibiting them from owning property, marrying legally, or learning to read and write. Additionally, they enforced harsh punishments for disobedience and escape attempts, thereby reinforcing the system of racial hierarchy and economic exploitation central to plantation agriculture.