The Alabama Slave Codes

      In the wake of Turner's Rebellion Southern lawmakers struggles with how to respond to the events in Virginia. The death of 55 white families in Virginia terrified planters in the South.  What would prevent their slaves from uprising?  Some states proposed ending slavery in the South all together, while others began to impose a harsher policy towards slaves and free blacks.

     In 1833, the state of Alabama passed a series of slave codes with the hopes of preventing a slave uprising from ever happening in their state.  These laws impacted the entire black population, free and enslaved in addition to the white population.  The Alabama Slave Codes would inspire other states to adopt similarly strict laws under the belief that strict slave codes would save the lives of southern whites.

Class Notes:  Slave Code Presentation.

For H.W.

Finish the Alabama Slave Code handout that was given in class today.