The Fugitive Slave Law was a controversial law passed in 1850 that required the capture and return of runaway slaves to their owners, even if they had escaped to free states. It strengthened the institution of slavery and angered abolitionists.
Related terms
Dred Scott v Sanford case: This landmark Supreme Court case in 1857 involved Dred Scott, a slave who sued for his freedom. The decision ruled that enslaved individuals were not citizens and therefore could not sue in federal court.
Underground Railroad: A network of secret routes and safe houses used by abolitionists to help enslaved individuals escape to free states or Canada.
Kansas-Nebraska Act: This 1854 law allowed settlers in the Kansas and Nebraska territories to decide whether to allow slavery within their borders, leading to violence between pro-slavery and anti-slavery supporters.