1. By Matthew Cordova US History Honors Mrs. Rice

2.  Slavery has always been an element needed by wealthy plantation owners to help tend their fields.  Slaves, African Americans, lived in poor conditions and were forced to work strenuously or be punished. (The Growth of Slavery in North Carolina) (Slavery in the South)

3.  Each Slave was to follow a strict catalog of laws that restricted their freedoms and elaborated on the actions and punishments that a slave can receive.  However, not all African Americans are slaves, very little of the black population was free. Free blacks likewise to the slaves had a set of laws to obey. (The Growth of Slavery in North Carolina)

4. SlavesFree Blacks  Slaves were not able to be armed.  Slaves cannot raise stock, such as horses, pigs, cattle, chickens, etc.  Slaves were not able to teach or be taught how to read and write.  Free blacks were able to be armed.  Free blacks were allowed to raise stock; also, free blacks could even buy slaves to help with the owners stock.  Free blacks were able to be taught or teach how to read and write to other free blacks or whites, not to slaves. (Black Codes)

5. SlavesFree Blacks  Slaves were not able to leave the plantation unless for doing something for the master, the slave had to have written permission.  Slaves were not allowed to preach in public  Free Blacks were able to roam free in areas of allowance, but leaving the state required to have written permission from the state in which is being left.  Free blacks likewise with the slave are not allowed to preach in public (Black Codes)

6. SlavesFree Blacks  Most slaves were allowed to marry with other slaves, this was favored by masters because it produced children slaves.  Free blacks were not able to marry into other slaves.  Free blacks were not allowed to gamble with other slaves.  Free blacks were not allowed to entertain their slaves on certain times. (Black Codes)

7.  The slave codes were mainly created to help limit and restrict what the slaves could do.  The purpose of the slave codes seemed understandable but some rules seemed too unjust towards the slaves. (Slavery in the South)

8.  Some instances such as the Nat Turner rebellion greatly frightened the southern white population into being more cautious towards slaves.  Nat Turner’s rebellion helped forged a stricter set of Slave laws towards the slaves. (Bradford, Erin) (A BRIEF HISTORY OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH)

9.  It is a shame that slaves were viewed as property and had to obey such a strict and unjust code, slaves should’ve been seen as people. The lack of freedoms made slave life very dull and tiresome.  Being free and black was a blessing compared to slave life, but should’ve been equal to being a white man. The only difference between a white man and an African American, is skin color.

10.  Bradford, Erin. "Laws and Lives of Free Blacks in North Carolina: 1718-1863." Blogger. N.p., 19 Apr. 2007. Web. 1 Oct. 2010.  "A BRIEF HISTORY OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH." Amoeblog. N.p., 10 Feb. 2010. Web. 1 Oct. 2010.  "Black Codes." LEARN NC. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, n.d. Web. 1 Oct. 2010.  "The Growth of Slavery in North Carolina." LEARN NC. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, n.d. Web. 1 Oct. 2010.  "Slavery in the South." OnCourse Systems for Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Oct. 2010.