Which of the following was an effect of slave codes
- Enforced racial hierarchy: Slave codes reinforced the idea of white superiority and black inferiority, establishing a social and racial hierarchy that placed white people at the top and black slaves at the bottom.
- Limited legal rights: Slave codes restricted the rights of enslaved individuals, denying them basic civil liberties such as the right to marry, own property, receive an education, or testify against white individuals in court.
- Harsh punishments and control: Slave codes allowed for brutal punishments and strict control of slaves, empowering slave owners to use physical violence, including whipping and branding, to maintain discipline and assert control over their enslaved labor force.
- Prohibited education and mobility: Slave codes often prohibited enslaved individuals from learning to read or write as a means to control their intellectual growth and ensure their continued subservience. Additionally, they restricted the movement of slaves, making it difficult for them to escape or seek better conditions elsewhere.
- Institutionalized dehumanization: Slave codes, by designating slaves as property rather than human beings, reinforced the dehumanization and commodification of enslaved individuals, treating them as objects to be bought, sold, and controlled by white slaveholders.