The Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Acts were federal laws, passed by the United States Congress in 1793, that allowed runaway slaves to be captured and returned to their owner within the region of the United States. The Fugitive Slave Act allowed local governments to arrest and return slaves back to their owners as well as penalise anyone who helped them to escape. This law was passed because several numbers of slaves succeeded in escaping to the Northern states of America, making slavery an unbalanced society in the Southern states.
This was devastating to free black slaves living in the Northern states, because they could no longer legally prove that they were free. Many African Americans were sent back into slavery in the Southern states and had no choice but to leave their freedom to return back to slavery. Fugitive slaves were at risk as they were captured and treated as if they were property. Children who were born to a free slave mother were also classified as property of their master for the rest of their lives. When runaway slaves were found, Government officials beat, whipped and attacked them and those who claimed to be free were denied the right of a fair trial by jury. The African American free slaves could not defend themselves because they were not a citizen of the United States according to the federal court system. As a result of this, many slaves fled to Canada in the search of safety and freedom.
The Fugitive Slave Acts had a very negative impact on the history of slavery in the United States as it stripped away legal rights and freedom from slaves. From all the bills included in the Compromise of 1850, the Fugitive Slave Act is said to be the most controversial as it required everyday citizens to assist in the capture of runaway slaves. The Fugitive Slave Act made abolitionists have a greater desire to put an end to slavery. The history of slavery was changed as the act brought the issue of slavery before the nation and made it more aware to citizens. Many white people who had previously been uncertain about slavery now stood against the institution as they witnessed the negative impact slavery had on African Americans. Over the following decade the North and Southern citizens became further divided over the issue of slavery.
Source One: An April 24, 1851 poster warning the "colored people of Boston" about policemen acting as slave catchers.
Source Two: Poster asking for the capture of slaves in return for money. WM. RUSSELL. 1st October 1847
This was devastating to free black slaves living in the Northern states, because they could no longer legally prove that they were free. Many African Americans were sent back into slavery in the Southern states and had no choice but to leave their freedom to return back to slavery. Fugitive slaves were at risk as they were captured and treated as if they were property. Children who were born to a free slave mother were also classified as property of their master for the rest of their lives. When runaway slaves were found, Government officials beat, whipped and attacked them and those who claimed to be free were denied the right of a fair trial by jury. The African American free slaves could not defend themselves because they were not a citizen of the United States according to the federal court system. As a result of this, many slaves fled to Canada in the search of safety and freedom.
The Fugitive Slave Acts had a very negative impact on the history of slavery in the United States as it stripped away legal rights and freedom from slaves. From all the bills included in the Compromise of 1850, the Fugitive Slave Act is said to be the most controversial as it required everyday citizens to assist in the capture of runaway slaves. The Fugitive Slave Act made abolitionists have a greater desire to put an end to slavery. The history of slavery was changed as the act brought the issue of slavery before the nation and made it more aware to citizens. Many white people who had previously been uncertain about slavery now stood against the institution as they witnessed the negative impact slavery had on African Americans. Over the following decade the North and Southern citizens became further divided over the issue of slavery.
Source One: An April 24, 1851 poster warning the "colored people of Boston" about policemen acting as slave catchers.
Source Two: Poster asking for the capture of slaves in return for money. WM. RUSSELL. 1st October 1847