New York slave codes facts for kids

The New York slave codes were a set of strict rules made in the Province of New York to control the lives of enslaved people. The first of these rules was created in 1702. More rules were added in 1712 and 1730, often because enslaved people tried to rebel or fight for their freedom.

What Were the New York Slave Codes?

The New York slave codes were laws that deeply affected the lives of enslaved African people. These laws were designed to keep enslaved people from gaining freedom or power. They also made sure that slave owners had almost complete control over the people they enslaved.

The First Rules: New York's 1702 Slave Code

The 1702 slave code was one of the earliest sets of rules about slavery in New York. It was a short document, but it had six very important rules that shaped how enslaved people were treated.

• No Trading Without Permission: This rule made it illegal for free people to buy or sell anything with an enslaved person unless the slave owner gave permission. If someone broke this rule, they had to pay a large fine and three times the value of whatever they traded. This was meant to stop enslaved people from earning money or owning property.
• Owners Could Punish: This rule allowed slave owners to punish the people they enslaved however they wanted. The only limits were that they could not seriously injure or kill them. This gave owners a lot of power and made life very difficult for enslaved people.
• No Large Gatherings: Enslaved people were not allowed to meet in groups of three or more people away from their owner's property. This rule was put in place to prevent enslaved people from planning rebellions or simply gathering for support and community.
• Permission to Leave Property: If an enslaved person needed to be away from their owner's land, they had to carry a special signed paper from their owner. Without this paper, they could be stopped and punished. This rule made it very hard for enslaved people to move freely.
• Punishment for Small Crimes: For minor crimes committed by enslaved people, the slave owner had to pay any fines. However, the enslaved person would receive a physical punishment instead of paying the fine themselves. This meant enslaved people often faced harsh physical consequences for small mistakes.
• Limited Testimony: This rule stated that enslaved people could not speak as witnesses in court, except when they were testifying against other enslaved people. This made it very difficult for enslaved people to defend themselves or seek justice against their owners or other free people.