Slave codes were passed in the southern states in order to

Slave codes were passed in the southern states to control slaves.

Explanation:

After the emancipation proclamation which was issued by the famous president Abraham Lincoln, more than three million slaves were being released to be free. Some African Americans who were considered to be slaves migrated to the northern states and others were in search of safe haven which would assure the blacks a respectful life.

The elite oligarchs in America were in a fear that they may lose the slave labor and hence  the whites passed laws called slave codes which defined the status of slaves and their rights and responsibilities to the slave owners. death penalty were issued to the slaves who tried to run away from  the slave owners. Owners who did not abide by the slave codes weer also heavily fined. Slave homes were also searched and raided for any weapons and ammunition.

the answer is c     : )

explanation:

i don't have an explanation because i don't know, but i think the answer is c because i googled it and google is right : ) just kidding google isn't allways right but the answer is still c. i hope this !