Important People
Did Northerners or Southerners want the Fugitive Slave Act?
Southerners
What is the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850?
This law forced escaped enslaved people to be returned, even if they were in free states.
What happened if slaves escaped after the Fugitive Slave Act was passed?
They were returned to their slave owners if caught.
What is one way that people tried to escape the Fugitive Slave Act?
This law made many enslaved people flee to Canada to stay safe.
What is one effect of the Fugitive Slave Act?
This law forced citizens to help capture escaped enslaved people.
Who was the main author of the Fugitive Slave Act?
James M. Mason
What were the penalties under the Fugitive Slave Act?
People who helped enslave people could be fined or put in jail.
Where did slaves mainly flee to?
Canada
Who was put in danger by the Fugitive Slave Act?
African Americans were put in danger by the Fugitive Slave Act.
What act made it easeir for enlavers to take back escaped people, even in free states?
The Fugitive Slave Act.
Who helped Henry Clay guide the Fugitive Slave Act into place?
Stephen A. Douglas
What is the removal of basic legal rights under the Fugitive Slave Act?
People who were accused of escaping slavery couldn't have a jury trial or speak for themselves.
What did Harriet Tubman lead to help slaves escape?
The Underground Railroad.
How did some people resist the Fugitive Slave Act?
This led some people to secretly help others escape, even if it was illegal.
What risk did helpers face under the Fugitive Slave Act?
This law punished people who helped enslaved people escape.
What president signed the Fugitive Slave Act into law?
Millard Fillmore
What rule in the Fugitive Slave Act required people to help catch them?
This law made people help catch escaped enslaved people.
What were the best two months to escape?
April and November were the two best months
How did people react to the Fugitive Slave Act?
This made many people in the North angry and protest against slavery.
How did communities react to the Fugitiv Slave Act?
Communities to protect escaped people in secret.
Who added the Fugitive Slave Act as an element to their Compromise of 1850?
Henry Clay
What is the Dred Scott V. Sandford decision?
A court decision said African Americans were not citizens and had no rights that the government had to protect.
In what region did Americans hide slaves from being recaptured?
The North
What was one result of the Fugitive Slave Act?
This increased conflict between Northern and Southern states.
What kind of national impact did the Fugitive Slave Act have?
It increased arguments and disagreements across the country.