The Slave Codes were a series of laws passed in the American colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries that restricted the rights of enslaved people and gave slave owners more power. The codes were a response to several events, including attacks on whites by members of maroon colonies, the Stono Rebellion, and the New York Slave Rebellion. These events showed that enslaved people were willing to fight for their freedom, and the codes were designed to prevent further uprisings.