The set of laws enacted in 1661, established a legal framework that codified the institution of chattel slavery in the English colony. These laws outlined the rights of enslavers and denied enslaved Africans basic human rights, treating them as property. The code served as a model for subsequent slave legislation in other English colonies in North America and the Caribbean.
This legal framework is significant for understanding the development of race-based slavery in the Americas. It legally sanctioned brutal treatment, denying enslaved people education, assembly, and freedom of movement. This legislation established a system that perpetuated intergenerational bondage and racial hierarchy, shaping the social and economic landscape of the region. The effects of such systemic oppression can be seen in the racial disparities that persist today.
