Mississippi’s Slave Property

In 1823, Mississippi passed its own code to restrict slave movements and activities while protecting masters’ property rights. Enslaved people needed written permission to leave plantations. They were not allowed to buy or sell goods, hire out, own weapons, or stand in groups of five or more. If the code was broken, they faced severe punishment.

Pictured: A black and white photograph of the slave quarters of Jefferson Davis’ plantation, Brierfield. On the left is a wooden fence and bare trees. On the right is a row of wooden cabins.

Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, LC-DIG-ppmsca-10971