Fugitive Slave Act Chapter 10 Section 2 SOL VUS.6c

Main Ideas Federal crime to help runaway slaves Allowed officials to arrest runaways where slavery was outlawed (North) Slave holders could take a suspected fugitive slave to U.S. Commissioners. They would try to prove (by providing documents or white witness testimony) that the slave was in fact a runaway.

Main Ideas Continued.. The slave could not defend him/herself at this proceeding. The U.S. Commissioners were paid $5 to reject the slave holder’s claim. He was paid $10 to send the suspected runaway back to the south. Anyone who hid or helped runaway slaves faced six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Statistics Throughout the ten years after this act was passed by congress there were 343 fugitive slaves brought before the Commissioners review in the North. The accused runaway slave was only declared free 11 times. Thousands of African-Americans fled to Canada to escape potential persecution.

Opposition to the Fugitive Slave Act This act angered Northerners very much. They disliked the lack of trial by jury. They disliked the higher fee paid for returning slaves to the South. The passing of this act led to protests by the _______________.