Fugitive Slave Act

As the nation descended further into a split entity, with the issue of slavery at the forefront of the debate. The North and South needed to find a way to deal with their differences before the Union fell in shambles. The Compromise of 1850 was passed after long extensive debate in congress, the compromise was intended to settle the debate over how slavery would be controlled throughout the expanding nation. The Fugitive Slave Act was included in the compromise to satisfy southern states, that wanted to preserve the institution of slavery. The act allowed for run away slaves to be hunted down and returned to their past owners, even after they made it to the free states in the North. The Southerners wished to preserve their right to property, which is among the “Unalienable Rights”. Some northern states refuse to recognize the law which infuriated the South because they saw this as an explicit violation of the slave holder’s rights, this intensified the South’s urge to become a separate State.

In 1850, the Compromise was formed as a way of preventing the southerners from withdrawing from the Union. Part of this law, was the Fugitive Slave act, which aroused many reactions from the public that it ultimately led to the civil war. This Fugitive Slave Act stated that the southerners were still owners of these slaves that had escaped to the north and that the Northerners had to abide to it, even though most of their states had illegalized slavery. This law also made it hard for the blacks to have a fair trial as they were not able to prove whether they were free or not. This led to the blacks in the northern states freeing to Canada in fear of being returned to slavery and because they did not feel as safe anymore. The Compromise, to keep the southerners in the Union, made these laws on slaves to favor them. However unexpectedly it made the Abolitionists

The Fugitive Slave Act was an act that stated citizens of the United States were required to help capture runaway slaves. This act made a huge impact in the south and in the north. It was an issue for people against slavery and a victory for those for it. The Fugitive Slave Act made it so that everyday people who would help slaves were now to scared to do anything about it because they could get punished too. The Fugitive Slave Act led to problems for the underground railroad and for abolitionist who were helping free slaves. The Fugitive Slave act also led to a growth in illegal slaves. In my opinion, the Fugitive Slave Act was one of the most important issues during slavery and the fight to end it.

The most glaring established issue with the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was its disavowal of due process. A criminal was returned south on the expression of any white individual. The blamed was not permitted to present confirmation in his own guard. This unmistakably disregards the Fifth Amendment. "No individual might be… denied of life, freedom, or property, without due procedure of law."Unless you need to contend dark individuals weren't "people," a blamed criminal had a privilege to a real trial. As it stood, the Fugitive Slave Acts stripped all rights from a dark individual on the simple assumption he was a slave. He was assumed liable and had no real way to substantiate himself guiltless. The Bill of Rights was added to give "promote decisive

In 1850, representatives of Clinton County tried to introduce the bill again. Both houses opposed it, but eventually the bill passed and the governor signed it. However, there was an important stipulation to the bill; it could only go into effect after it was published in the newspapers; Iowa City Reporter and the Iowa Freeman of Mt. Pleasant. Fortunately, the Freeman refused to publish it, thus effectively stopping the bill from becoming law (History of Clinton County, 54). Nevertheless, there was another legal move to block runaway slaves from achieving freedom, this time from the United States Government. Before the Federal Government passed the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, slaves felt safe if they could run away to a free state. However, after this law went into effect slave catchers everywhere hunted them. The Fugitive Slave Act brought the problem of slavery to “Iowa’s doorstep” (History of Clinton County, 54).

The Compromise of 1850 was a desperate attempt to keep the southern states from seceding from the United States of America. While the goal was to keep the south from seceding, the new laws actually created more tension than it solved. Since the division in America over slave ownership had been holding a delicate balance with the states on both sides, the North and the South. When California petitioned to join the Union in 1849 as a free state, that delicate balance tipped and the conflict once again erupted. The Compromise consisted of 5 laws, admitting California as a free state, creating Utah and New Mexico territories with the question of slavery in each is determined by popular sovereignty, settling a Texas-New Mexico boundary dispute in the former’s favor, ending the slave trade in Washington D.C. and making it easier for southerners to recover fugitive slaves (History).

The Fugitive Slave Law or Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was a law passed by the United States Congress on September 18th. This Law stated that all people who had escaped from slavery must be returned to their owners. Keep in mind that in this situation slaves were traded and bought, sort of thought of back then what farm equipment is now. If people in the North, Where Slavery was not legal, hid or in some way helped slaves, they were breaking the law of the land. Law officials everywhere now had a duty to arrest anyone that was suspected of being a runaway slave, with very little evidence needed except the owners testimony of ownership. The suspected slave could not ask for a jury trial or testify on his or her own behalf.

In 1850, the Fugitive Slave Law was passed. This law plainly stated that citizens were required to help slave catchers if inquired upon to do so. This law would make it immensely difficult for slaves to successfully escape slavery. Slaves would have to be even more careful not to run into the wrong person.

The Fugitive Slave Act was part of the Compromise of 1850. This act required that authorities in the North had to assist

It violates the northern liberty because the north is forced to help bring runaway slaves back to the south and the northerners had to obey the law. Foner believed that the fugitive slave act was cruel because there were actual free slaves that were captured and returned just for money. This caused even more tension between the south and the north. Since there were free slaves that were captured even though they were free they had to go back to slavery because they were sold back to the south. This act was also a violation of the northerners liberty. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 had a tremendous impact on the development of anti-slavery groups. This strengthen the development because this just gave an even greater reason to counter slavery. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 also improved the development of the underground railroad. This increased production of the railroad that helped the slaves escape sooner. The railroad aided in the escape of the many slaves that were in the south. Northerners saw this bit as substantially more intrusive than the act of 1793, and their chemical reaction was swift. Many people resisted and defied the law. In 1851, for example, Frederick Wilkins, known as Shadrach, a fugitive slave from Virginia, was rescued from a Bean Town court and helped to evasion to Canada. In some areas it was difficult to find people willing to do the obligation required of commissioners under the bit. Juries ignored evidence and acquitted people accused of violating the act. In June 1851 Harriet Beecher Stowe began publishing her influential antislavery novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, in weekly installments in the National Era magazine. In some sphere it was difficult to find people willing to do the responsibility required of commissioners under the human

The question of slavery and the rights of states to decide on the matter for themselves completely controlled politics in the years prior to the Civil War. Laws were passed, such as the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which made it so any slaves that escaped were to be sent back to their owners. Not only would these runaway slaves be punished severely, but anybody who aided them in escape would also be subject to harsh punishment. These desperate men, women, and children had no protection in the legal system and were left with no options in life other than escape. Many of these escapees had to watch friends and family be beaten, sold, or even killed and were expected to work just as hard, like nothing had happened. After losing everything, it

In efforts to better understand the Civil War most historians examine the Sectional Crisis and the Compromise of 1850 in the decades leading up to the worst years in American History. Some historians prefer to focus on the underlying theme of the war, others tightly examine individual leaders, events, and political parties, connecting them all together like puzzle pieces to define the years prior to the war. Despite the contrasting views, it is clear to realize the constant prevailing issues of the Antebellum Period, the Sectional Crisis and the Compromise of 1850. In particular, the Compromise of 1850 is deceivingly taught as only establishing 3 pivotal elements: the status of slavery in future territories (popular sovereignty), California statehood, and the fugitive slave law. Granted these elements of the compromise provide a great amount of controversy long after their birth, but one element of the compromise perceives to fail in obtaining recognition. The Texas-New Mexico boundary resolution seems to find itself fading away from its relevancy to the civil war, shadowed by more prominent issues regarding the stability of the Union. Abandoning the traditional teaching of the compromise, the Texas-New Mexico border decision figuratively and literally changed the identity of Texas. This was the long awaited result caused by deep rooted social and political issues dating back to the Texas Revolution.

Purpose was to hunt down runaway slaves who had escaped to northern states, and return them to their masters.

In response to slaves running north for freedom, the US Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, an extension of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793, which granted owners the right to recapture their slaves and place them back in slavery. This was a controversial issue because slave owners could hire a bounty hunter to capture slaves, or in most instances, capture a free African

The actions and words of individuals influenced the government to expand freedom even when the majority originally supported slavery. The Anthony Burns Case sparked a movement against slavery and specifically the Fugitive slave law, bringing attention to the government. During discussions throughout class, Mrs.Antonakos described how Fugitive Slave Law greatly impacted all African Americans stating, “They were always in fear that they would be suspected as a fugitive and put into slavery. Many did not leave their homes and hid in fear of becoming enslaved again” (Antanokos October 17th, 2017). In life, fear is common; fear is an excuse to say, “no”. There is always something that is going to scare you, but until you do something about that particular fear, change will never occur. Many African Americans locked themselves in their homes because of this fear, until individuals was eager for something to change. The Anthony Burns Case, held in Boston, Massachusetts, where hundreds of thousands of people were able to spectate. Anthony Burns, a runaway slave was captured and brought to the courthouse. The individuals who broke in and retrieved Burns were tired of fearing for their lives, but how did this action impact the expansion of freedom? Well, they were the individuals who started a chain reaction. More and more people were thirsty for freedom and made more citizens of the gruesome situation. With everyone rising together, that fear was turned into determination and grit.