The purpose of the Black Codes enacted in the South after the Civil War was to maintain white supremacy and control over African Americans.

These laws, implemented in 1865 and 1866, sought to restrict the freedoms and rights of newly freed slaves, effectively preserving the social and economic hierarchy that existed during slavery. Black Codes limited African Americans' ability to work, own property, and move freely, often forcing them into exploitative labor contracts. By imposing severe penalties for vagrancy and other minor offenses, these codes aimed to control the Black population and suppress their newfound liberties.