What were the details and reactions to the Fugitive Slave Act?
1 Answer
Jul 14, 2016
The Fugitive Slave Act:
- Was part of a bigger compromise
- Was clearly unfair and bias towards the South
- Basically helped southern citizens capture any African American and take them to court as a runaway slave
- Judge always ruled never in favor of black
- People who captured were given money
- North hated it
- Purpose was to catch runaway slaves
- Gave people authority to check your living quarters for slaves
- Basically all black people found were taken away, even if they were not slaves
Reactions
- North was outraged
- South went with it
- Slaves kept escaping and feared more and more
- Judges and other authorities were unfair
- Caused increased national tensions between North and South
- Escalated path to Civil War
