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sep 18, 1850 - Fugitive Slave Act

Description:

This act states that everyone (including abolitionists) was required to catch and return any escaped slaves. This also stated that if slaves who were from slave states escaped to a free state, they would still be considered slaves, meaning that they were still going to be captured and sent back. Furthermore, if a white man swore under oath and accused a black man of being a runaway slave, they would automatically be sent to back even if he was actually a free man.
This act was significant because it started to blur what the Missouri Compromise said, leading to different interpretations.

Added to timeline:

8 Dec 2023
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Date:

sep 18, 1850
Now
~ 175 years ago