- The Fugitive Slave Act was passed in 1850 as part of the Compromise of 1850
- It made it more dangerous and the consequences more severe for runaway slaves to be caught
- They could now be arrested without a warrant, only given a summary hearing, and could be returned to their owners on the sworn testimony of them
- People assisting slaves in getting to freedom were also at risk of fines up to one thousand dollars and being sent to prison for six months
- It angered abolitionists and people of the north who now had bigger responsibility and more involvement in the situation of slavery
The Fugitive Slave Act
With the growing frustration of the slave owners, the government wanted to secure their loyalty and keep them happy while also keeping order, so they created the Fugitive Slave Act.