Many governments in the South passed new codes, often referred to as "Black Codes," following the Civil War to maintain control over the newly freed African American population. These laws aimed to restrict the rights and freedoms of Black individuals, ensuring a labor force for the agricultural economy that was heavily reliant on cotton and other cash crops. The codes were part of a broader effort to reinforce white supremacy and limit the social, economic, and political gains made by African Americans during Reconstruction.
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