What was the purpose of the convict lease system established after emancipation?

The purpose of the convict lease system established after emancipation was to provide a labor force controlled by landowners. After the Civil War and the abolition of slavery, many Southern states faced economic challenges and a labor shortage. The convict lease system allowed state governments to lease inmates to private industries, effectively creating a system that resembled slavery in practice. This system was exploited by landowners and industrialists, who obtained a cheap and controllable labor force to work on farms, railroads, and in other industries.

This arrangement not only helped to restore the labor system that had existed before the Civil War but also served to maintain white supremacy and economic control over black individuals, who often found themselves trapped in a cycle of incarceration due to discriminatory laws and practices. This harsh reality was a continuation of the exploitation faced by African Americans, highlighting the systemic challenges of that era.