Download The Virginia Slave Codes, 1705

The Virginia Slave Codes, 1705
The status of blacks in Virginia slowly changed over the last half of the 17th century. The black
and white indentured servants had hope of freedom, but they were replaced by black slaves who
would never be free. The change to using black slaves had serious effects on society. Before this
change, people of African heritage had similar or the same rights as Europeans. After this
change, even free black people were treated cruelly and not given the same rights as whites.
In 1705, the Virginia General Assembly passed the slave codes, finalizing this “terrible
transformation” to black slavery. It said,
"All servants imported and brought into the Country...who were not Christians in their native
Country...shall be accounted and be slaves.” It also said that if slaves rebelled or did not follow
orders, their master could punish them however he pleased. A master could even kill the slave
and not be punished. This was thought to be acceptable for two reasons. First, slaves did not have
any money therefore they could not pay fines. Second, slaves and all people of African heritage,
were now thought of as below Europeans or whites, therefore it didn’t matter if they were
whipped.
The slave codes stated that slaves needed written permission to leave their plantation, that slaves
found guilty of murder or rape would be hanged, that for robbing or any other major offence, the
slave would receive sixty lashes and be placed in stocks, where his or her ears would be cut off,
and that for minor offences, such as associating with whites, slaves would be whipped, branded,
or maimed.
Before this code was created in Virginia, a slave could take his/her court to court to settle a
disagreement. With the slave codes of 1705, this no longer was the case. A slave owner now
knew that he could inflict any punishment on a slave, including death.