The History of Corvees: A Form of Forced Labor in the 19th Century

Corvees are a type of forced labor that was used in the past to punish criminals and vagrants. The word "corvee" comes from the French word "corvée," which means "to do penance." Corvees were typically imposed on people who had been convicted of minor crimes, such as petty theft or vagrancy.

In the United States, corvees were used in the 19th century as a form of punishment for criminals. For example, in the state of Louisiana, corvees were used to punish people who had been convicted of crimes such as forgery, assault, and burglary. In addition to being a form of punishment, corvees were also seen as a way to deter crime and to provide a source of cheap labor for public works projects.

Corvees typically involved the convict performing hard physical labor, such as digging ditches or hauling heavy loads, for a set period of time. The length of the corvee varied depending on the severity of the crime and the discretion of the court. Some corvees were as short as a few days, while others could last for several weeks or even months.

Overall, corvees were a form of punishment that was designed to be harsh and degrading, with the goal of deterring criminal behavior and providing a source of cheap labor. While they are no longer used today, the legacy of corvees can still be seen in the criminal justice systems of many countries around the world.