There were large numbers of black people in North America by the middle of the 17th century. Some had managed to buy their freedom with money or labor, but most were still slaves. Each colony had its own laws, but everywhere the main rules were the same. Black slaves were the ‘property’ of their owners, and had to do whatever their owners required of them. They received no pay, were not allowed to own property, to give evidence against white people, or to marry legally. Slaves were foreboded to leave their plantations without permission of their masters.
Similar laws applied to the British Caribbean, where slaves had absolutely no rights. These laws were drawn up by the colonial authorities on each island, which were controlled by the planters, On most islands, slaves were also forbidden to become Christians or even to learn to read or write. Different for the control of slaves were introduced in other parts of the Caribbean in 1685, the Code Noir (Black Code) was drawn up in France for use throughout the French islands. The Spanish islands were also centrally controlled with a code know as Las Siete Partidas. Both these codes were severe, but gave slaves more rights than British laws, for example the right to marry. But, in practice, French and Spanish slave owners generally did as they pleased.
Punishments for law-breaking were harsh. Slaves were whipped for the smallest offense, sometimes an ear or a hand was cut off, and in the worst cases, slaves were buried alive or hanged. In the British Caribbean, execution by hanging or burning was favored for those slaves who took part in rebellions.
>From the late 18th century, the anti-slavery movement in Britain forced the government to attempt to control the excessive violence of some planers. As a result, limits on slave punishments were introduced in many colonies. In 1907, when Britain passed a law making the trade in slaves illegal, new slave codes were introduced to control the treatment of slaves still further - at least in theory. But, until slavery itself finally came to an end, many planters continued to punish their slaves mercilessly.