1. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
The Road to Disunion
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

2. Focus Question Explain the purpose of this poster. Does it get its
point across?

3. Objectives After today’s lesson, you will:
Describe the impact of the Fugitive Slave Act on the U.S.
Discuss the impact of slavery on the entire population

4. Activity With your partners: Read the accounts of a fugitive slave
Draw images of each of the elements of the story
Introduction/Exposition
Rising Action
Climax
Falling Action
Resolution/Denoument
DO NOT USE ANY WORDS

5. The Fugitive Slave Act Part of the Compromise of 1850
Designed to protect property rights of Southerners
Tightened up the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793
Intended to counter the Underground Railroad

6. Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 Designed to stop these activities
Federal commissions for fugitive slave cases
Cases heard by commissioners, not juries
Alleged slaves could not testify
Simple affidavit enough to reclaim a “slave”

7. Impacted Marshal Service
Federal Marshals required to assist slave hunters
Could deputize bystanders on the spot
Refusal to help was made a felony

8. Infuriated the North
The Wisconsin Supreme Court declared the Act unconstitutional (overturned)
Many states passed Personal Liberty Laws
Laws stressed that residents of those states did not have to abide by the Fugitive Slave Act
“Nullified” the Act
Purpose?

9. Cracks in the Compromise
The Fugitive Slave Act enflamed Northern opinion
Assaulted ideas of personal liberty
Assaulted ideas of fair play
Growth of the “Slaveocracy”
Reaction to the Act infuriated the South
Would the “Free” states continue to abide by the Constitution?
What protections existed for their “property”?

10. Summary:
In a short reply of one to two sentences, respond to the following prompt:
Describe the most important thing learned in class today.