Primary Source Analysis research-1 copy copy
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Modesto Junior College *
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1301
Subject
English
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
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6
Uploaded by UltraRock12803
Primary Source Analysis for Research Paper: Major Grade Assignment
Name of the Document: Mississippi Black code, 1865
Creator: Edward McPherson
Observing the source
1.
Name the type (format, genre) of the document:
Mississippi State Laws
2.
Identify the date of the document, or explain your estimate of the date
1865
3.
Who authored or created the document? What was that person’s profession/position/title?
Edward McPherson created the document and was
an American newspaper editor and politician.
Moving towards Interpretation and Evidence
4.
For what audience was the document written? a.
How do you know? Quote from the document as evidence:
African-Americans “
South Carolina and Mississippi passed laws known as
Black Codes to regulate black behavior and impose social and economic control.”
5.
Other document information:
a.
List three things the author says that you
think are important:
:
Be it enacted by the legislature of the state of Mississippi,
that all freedmen,
free Negroes, and mulattoes may sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded in all the courts of law and equity of this state, and may acquire personal property and choses in action, by descent or purchase, and may dispose of the same in the same manner and to the same extent that white persons may:
Provided,
that the provisions of this section shall not be construed as to allow any freedman, free Negro, or mulatto to rent or lease any lands or tenements, except in incorporated towns or cities, in which places the corporate authorities shall control the same….
:
Be it further enacted,
that all freedmen, free Negroes, and mulattoes in this state over the age of eighteen years found on the second Monday in January 1866, or thereafter, with no lawful employment or business, or found
unlawfully assembling themselves together
either in the day or nighttime,
and all white persons so assembling with freedmen, free Negroes, or mulattoes, or usually associating with freedmen, free Negroes, or mulattoes on terms of equality, or living in adultery or fornication with a freedwoman, free Negro, or mulatto,
shall be deemed vagrants; and, on conviction thereof, shall be fined in the
sum of not exceeding, in the case of a freedman, free Negro, or mulatto, 150, and a white man, $200, and imprisoned at the discretion of the court, the free Negro not exceeding ten days, and the white man not exceeding six months
:
Be it further enacted,
that any person feeling himself or herself aggrieved by the judgment of any justice of the peace, mayor, or alderman in cases arising under this act may, within five days, appeal to the next term of the county court of the proper county, upon giving bond and security in a sum not less than $25 nor more than $150, conditioned to appear and prosecute said appeal, and abide by the judgment of the county court, and said appeal shall be tried
de novo
in the county court, and the decision of said court shall be final
b.
Are those the same things that the author
(or audience at the time) would have thought important?
Yes
c.
Why do you think the document was written?
Another way to ask that question: What did the author stand to gain or lose by writing the document? How do you know what’s at stake? In your opinion, is the author reliable? Explain. The author gained the ability to regulate and control the lives of African Americans in the state. I know what’s at stake based on historical knowledge and the understanding of the context in which the Mississippi black codes were created. It depends on how accurate their sources are, but as far as I’ve seen, yes.
d.
What evidence in the document helps you know why
it was written? Quote from the document as evidence: According to the provided document, it appears that the purpose of this act is to enforce payment of fines and costs imposed on individuals convicted of misdemeanors. The evidence for this can be found in the following quote from the document: "such person shall be hired out by the sheriff or other officer, at public outcry, to any white person who will pay said fine and all costs." This suggests that the act was written to ensure that individuals who fail or refuse to pay their fines and costs are held accountable by being hired out to others for a specified period of time.
e.
List two things the document tells you about the conditions of life at the time
it was written: Based on the provided text, the document suggests two things
about the conditions of life at the time it was written:
1. There were specific acts classified as misdemeanors, for which fines and costs were imposed as punishment.
2. In case a person failed or refused to pay the fine and costs within five days after conviction, they could be hired out by the sheriff or other officer to a white person who would pay the fine and costs and take the convict for a certain period of time.
f.
Write a question to the author that is left unanswered by the document: What are the specific misdemeanors listed in this act for which a mulatto can be convicted?
g.
How might you read this document ‘against the grain,’ that is, to answer a question or propose a hypothesis that the author was not seeking to provide?
When reading this document 'against the grain,' one could propose a hypothesis that the author, in fact, did not support or intend to endorse the practice described in the article. Instead, the author might have been attempting to highlight the injustice and cruelty of such a system. By emphasizing the harsh consequences of refusing to pay fines and costs, the author may have aimed to shed light on the oppressive nature of the legal system at the time. The language used in the document could have been intentionally chosen to provoke outrage and spark discussions about the need for reform.
Moving Towards Analysis through Identifying Values and Limitations Values (what values does this document have to you as a historian?)
a. What value does this document have as a piece of evidence?
As an AI, I can analyze the provided document and provide some insights. The document you shared seems to be a legal provision or act discussing the consequences for individuals of African descent who were convicted of certain misdemeanors. It appears to outline a system where if a person fails to pay their fine and costs after conviction, they may be hired out by a sheriff or officer to a white person who is willing to pay the fine and take on the convict for a specified period.
In terms of its value as a piece of evidence, this document can be valuable in understanding historical perspectives on race, legal systems, and societal norms during the time it was written. It provides insight into the treatment and social dynamics surrounding people of African descent,
particularly from a legal standpoint. However, it's important to note that the document should be
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