Slave codes were enacted primarily to protect which group’s interests?

Slave codes were established primarily to protect the interests of slave owners by legally defining the status of enslaved individuals and controlling their behaviors. These codes were designed to maintain the institution of slavery and ensure that slave owners could keep their enslaved population in check. They outlined harsh restrictions on the rights and movements of enslaved people, such as prohibiting them from owning property, learning to read, or gathering in large groups.

This legal framework directly served the needs of slave owners to reinforce their control over enslaved individuals and safeguard their economic investments. The codes were aimed at preventing rebellion and ensuring that enslaved people remained subordinate to their owners. Therefore, the interests protected by these codes were primarily those of the individuals who owned slaves, not those of the enslaved individuals themselves, women and children, or free laborers.