American Law Summary: The Fugitive Slave Law Of 1850

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Recommended: Essays over the compromise of 1850

The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 helped usher in a major shift in American political feelings and attitudes. The controversy at the root of the law helped to shape the course of American politics for the rest of the century and dictate the course America would take. Its importance in America history is one that is very frequently forgotten and looked past, but when one takes the time to notice its impact on the country as a whole they can see just how important this single law was.
The Compromise of 1850 brought about a large number of new laws or acts that effected America as a whole. One of the most widely debated and controversial acts that came out of this compromise was the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. This act basically stated that slaves who escaped from their masters could be captured and returned even if they made it to free states. Sothern’s viewed this as a simple right to their property while people from the north viewed it as legalized kidnapping. The act caused many a debate and created a distinct divide between politicians. Many northern states …show more content…

He escaped from his master and made his was to Syracuse, New York, an area known to be very friendly to escaped slaves. Jerry lived there in a small community with other African-Americans until October 1st, 1851 when he was arrested under the Fugitive Slave Law. When the information about this event began to spread across the community the citizens acted in rebellion and hundreds gathered together to break into the city jail and free Jerry. He eventually escaped to Canada but the federal government used this event as an example to begin seriously enforcing the Fugitive Slave Law. They went on to try over twenty-six individuals for their involvement in Jerry’s rescue in order to prove their power but only one was eventually convicted therefore causing some to question the practicality of the Fugitive Slave

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