Slavery, Escaped Slave Whipped Pete, 1863
Escaped slave Gordon, also known as Whipped Peter, showing his scarred back at a medical examination, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Slave Codes were sets of laws during the colonial period and in individual states after the American Revolution which defined the status of slaves and the rights and responsibilities of slave owners. In the deep south these codes were exceptionally cruel. Any slave attempting to run away and leave the colony (later the state) receives the death penalty. Any slave who evades capture for 20 days or more is to be publicly whipped for the first offense, branded with the letter R on the right cheek for the second offense, and lose one ear if absent for 30 days for the third offense, and castrated for the fourth offense. A runaway slave refusing to surrender could be killed without penalty. Photographed by McPherson & Oliver, April 2, 1863
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Photo credit: © Science History Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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