Fugitive Slave Act
History of Business
Fugitive Slave Act
The westward expansion of slavery was one of the most dynamic economic and social processes going on in this country. The Industrial Revolution had changed every aspect of American life and the country’s borders spread westward with the addition of the Mexican Cession—opening new cotton fields. To maintain the original Constitutional balance of lawmaking power, Congress continued to play the compromise game in 1820 and 1850 to maintain an equal number of free and slave votes in the Senate (where every state had two votes). Following the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), a series of bills was developed that was intended to settle many of the difficulties presented by slavery and the surrounding controversial issues. The Fugitive Slave Act was part of the group of laws referred to as the "Compromise of 1850." In this compromise, the antislavery advocates gained the admission of California as a free state, and the prohibition of slave-trading in the District of Columbia. The slavery party received concessions with regard to slave holding in Texas and the passage of this law. Various states received financial support and political support, based on their position on slavery. Highly controversial for its time, the Fugitive Slave Act declared that any runaway slaves that had escaped their masters and were living free in the North should be returned at once to their masters.
It was favored strongly by, and signed by US President Millard Filmore a native of Buffalo. Only John P. Hale, Charles Sumner, Salmon Chase and Benjamin Wade voted against the measure. Slave hunters were allowed to capture an escapee in any territory or state and were required only to confirm orally before a state or federal judge that the person was a runaway. At the command of Senator Henry Clay, it was legislated that any United States Marshall who did not arrest an alleged and who refused to return a runaway slave would pay a hefty penalty of
Fugitive Slave Act
The westward expansion of slavery was one of the most dynamic economic and social processes going on in this country. The Industrial Revolution had changed every aspect of American life and the country’s borders spread westward with the addition of the Mexican Cession—opening new cotton fields. To maintain the original Constitutional balance of lawmaking power, Congress continued to play the compromise game in 1820 and 1850 to maintain an equal number of free and slave votes in the Senate (where every state had two votes). Following the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), a series of bills was developed that was intended to settle many of the difficulties presented by slavery and the surrounding controversial issues. The Fugitive Slave Act was part of the group of laws referred to as the "Compromise of 1850." In this compromise, the antislavery advocates gained the admission of California as a free state, and the prohibition of slave-trading in the District of Columbia. The slavery party received concessions with regard to slave holding in Texas and the passage of this law. Various states received financial support and political support, based on their position on slavery. Highly controversial for its time, the Fugitive Slave Act declared that any runaway slaves that had escaped their masters and were living free in the North should be returned at once to their masters.
It was favored strongly by, and signed by US President Millard Filmore a native of Buffalo. Only John P. Hale, Charles Sumner, Salmon Chase and Benjamin Wade voted against the measure. Slave hunters were allowed to capture an escapee in any territory or state and were required only to confirm orally before a state or federal judge that the person was a runaway. At the command of Senator Henry Clay, it was legislated that any United States Marshall who did not arrest an alleged and who refused to return a runaway slave would pay a hefty penalty of
Bibliography: Paul S. Boyer. "Fugitive Slave Act." The Oxford Companion to United States History. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 26 Sep. 2011 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. John, M. , et. al. (1996). Liberty equality power. New York: Harcourt Brace College Publishers Farrow, Anne, Joel Lang, and Jenifer Frank [ 4 ]. John, M. , et. al. (1996). Liberty equality power. New York: Harcourt Brace College Publishers [ 5 ] [ 6 ]. Farrow, Anne, Joel Lang, and Jenifer Frank. Complicity: How The North Promoted, Prolonged, And Profited From Slavery. Ballantine Books, 2006 [ 7 ]