The Constitution's Fugitive Slave Clause required runaway slaves to be returned to their owners, regardless of where they were in the country. This clause was later reinforced by the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, making it illegal to assist runaway slaves and facilitating their capture and return.
Runaway slaves needed a plan, help from allies or a network (such as the Underground Railroad), knowledge of the terrain, disguises, forged papers or passes, and determination to navigate obstacles and evade capture.
Under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, it was required for citizens to assist in the capture of runaway slaves, and individuals could be fined or imprisoned for aiding escaped slaves. Additionally, alleged fugitive slaves were not entitled to a jury trial or allowed to testify on their own behalf.
Indians and runaway slaves often took refuge in the swamps and forests of Florida after attacking southern settlements. These areas provided cover and protection from pursuit by authorities.
The two men looking for runaway slaves were bounty hunters. They were hired to capture and return the escaped slaves to their owners for a reward.
The Fugitive Slave Law.
1793
The Constitution's Fugitive Slave Clause required runaway slaves to be returned to their owners, regardless of where they were in the country. This clause was later reinforced by the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, making it illegal to assist runaway slaves and facilitating their capture and return.
The Fugitive Slave Law was passed in 1850. This law was meant to help slave owners capture escaped slaves by making it a crime to help an escaped slave.
Buy them at a slave auction, or hire somone to capture a runaway one.
Runaway slaves needed a plan, help from allies or a network (such as the Underground Railroad), knowledge of the terrain, disguises, forged papers or passes, and determination to navigate obstacles and evade capture.
Under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, it was required for citizens to assist in the capture of runaway slaves, and individuals could be fined or imprisoned for aiding escaped slaves. Additionally, alleged fugitive slaves were not entitled to a jury trial or allowed to testify on their own behalf.
The southern states did not agree with slavery so offered runaway slaves homes, food and care.
Indians and runaway slaves often took refuge in the swamps and forests of Florida after attacking southern settlements. These areas provided cover and protection from pursuit by authorities.
According to historians, hundreds of thousands of slaves attempted to escape their enslaved condition since the onset of slavery. This became a problem for many slave-owners and therefore, the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was passed for slave catchers to travel north of the U.S. to capture runaway slaves.
The two men looking for runaway slaves were bounty hunters. They were hired to capture and return the escaped slaves to their owners for a reward.
The Council planned to capture runaway slaves by offering rewards, setting up patrols, and using informants to track them down. To prevent future rebellions, they implemented stricter enforcement of laws, increased surveillance on slave populations, and imposed harsher punishments on those found helping slaves escape.