An act concerning Servants and Slaves facts for kids
The Virginia Slave Codes of 1705 were a set of important laws made in the Colony of Virginia in 1705. These laws, officially called "An act concerning Servants and Slaves," were created by Virginia's government, known as the House of Burgesses. They set rules for how enslaved people and other citizens in the colony should interact. These codes are seen as the moment when slavery became a firm part of Virginia's laws, and they formed the basis for all future laws about slavery there.
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What Were the Virginia Slave Codes?
The Virginia Slave Codes of 1705 were laws that officially made slavery a legal system. They did this by setting up several key rules:
- They gave new legal rights to people who owned enslaved individuals, treating enslaved people as property.
- They made it legal and safe to buy and sell enslaved people, with courts protecting these trades.
- They created special courts just for trials involving enslaved people.
- They stopped enslaved people from carrying weapons unless they had written permission.
- They made it illegal for white people to work for any Black person.
- They allowed for the capture of anyone thought to be an enslaved person who had run away.
Why Were These Laws Created?
These laws were designed to give more control over the growing number of enslaved African people in Virginia. The government also wanted to keep white colonists and Black enslaved people separate. They aimed to prevent these groups from uniting, as this was a big worry for the wealthy leaders of Virginia. They wanted to avoid another event like Bacon's Rebellion, which had happened 29 years earlier and involved both white and Black people rising up.
The Impact of the Codes
The Virginia Slave Codes had a lasting impact on society. They clearly defined the legal status of enslaved people, making them property under the law. This legal framework helped to maintain and expand the system of slavery in Virginia for many years. The codes also deepened the divisions between different groups of people, shaping the social structure of the colony.
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