While Louisiana was under French rule, the slave laws followed Code Noir, which was a collection of laws instituted back in 1685 by the Sun King, Louis XIV. Among other things, it forbade the splitting up of slave families. The law provided slaves one day off a week and forbade torture or other cruel punishment. The slave owner was also required to educate his slaves in the Catholic faith. This completely changed when Louisiana was purchased by the United States in 1803.
