The New Fugitive Slave Laws
                       THE NEW FUGITIVE   
  SLAVE LAWS
Background
 The new land is added in the 
West and that renewed 
disputes over the expansion 
of slavery. 
 Repeated challenges to the 
old fugitive slave law 
resulted in new fugitive law.
 Slave act, 1850 also referred 
to as Compromises of 1850 
tried to solve these disputes 
over slavery, but it was 
more controversial.
Background
Regional Differences about Slavery
 Ban on Slavery created the 
sectionalism between Northerners 
and Southerners.
 Some northerners promoted the 
ban on slavery. While southern 
wanted slavery and did not want 
California to be a free state.
 This dispute result of new party 
called Free-soil party, all 
Antislavery northerners were the 
part of it.
Slavery divides a nation
Source: The Nystrom Atlas of United States History
Fugitive Slave Act,1850
 To help runaway slaves 
considered as a crime and 
officials can arrest 
runaway slaves in free 
areas.
 Slaveholders get power, 
they can take suspected 
fugitives to U.S. 
commissioners. 
Fugitive Slave Act,1850
 Commissioners became more powerful they can 
decide the fate of slaves. 
 Accused fugitive did not get any right, they even 
unable to testify on their own behalf.
Fugitive Slave Act,1850
 The new arbitrary law had bribe written to it- 
“Commissioners would be paid $10 if they decided 
that a suspected runaway was a slave, but only $5 
if they declared him or her free.”
Fugitive Slave Act-Adverse effects
 Enforcement of Compromises of 
1850 was immediate, resulting 
in the migration of thousands of 
northern African Americans to 
Canada in fear.
 Northerners were in favor of ban 
slavery, this act upset them.
 The emergence of the 
abolitionist movement.
Fugitive law, A growing conflict
Conclusion
 Fugitive slave act,1850 results 
in the great conflict in the U.S.
 In 1855, the Wisconsin 
Supreme court declared the 
fugitive law as 
unconstitutional.
 In June 1864, the fugitive slave 
law declared invalid formally 
wiping out the blood-red stain 
of American Republic for 
forever.