Source: [After Nat Turner’s Rebellion, Virginia along with most other southern states,
passed stricter slave codes that aimed to control blacks and prevent another rebellion.
These are excerpts from Virginia’s slaves codes passed in 1832 in response to Nat
Turner’s Rebellion.]
 “1. Be it enacted by the general assembly, That no slave, free negro, or mulatto,
whether he shall have been ordained or licensed, or otherwise, shall hereafter
undertake to preach, exhort or conduct, or hold any assembly, or meeting, for religious
or other purposes, either in the day time, or at night...
 2. Any slave, free negro, or mulatto, who shall hereafter attend any preaching,
meeting, or other assembly, held, or pretended to be held, for religious purposes, or
other instruction, conducted by any slave, free negro or mulatto preacher, ordained or
otherwise; and any slave who shall hereafter attend any preaching in the night time,
although conducted by a white minister, without a written permission from his or her
owner, overseer or master or agent of either of them, shall be punished...
 4. No free negro or mulatto, shall be suffered to keep or carry any firelock of any
kind, any military weapon, or any powder or lead...
 5. No slave, free negro or mulatto, shall hereafter be permitted to sell, give, or
otherwise, dispose of any ardent or spirituous liquor at or within one mile of any muster,
preaching, or other public assembly of black or white persons; and any slave, free negro
or mulatto...
 7. If any person shall hereafter write, print, or cause to be written or printed, any
book, pamphlet or other writing, advising persons of colour within this state to make
insurrection, or to rebel, or shall knowingly circulate, or cause to be circulated, any
book, pamphlet or other writing, written or printed, advising persons of colour in this
commonwealth to commit insurrection or rebellion; such person if a slave, free negro or
mulatto, shall, on conviction before any justice of the peace, be punished...
 8. Riots, routs, unlawful assemblies, trespasses and seditious speeches, by free
negroes or mulattoes, shall hereafter be punished…”