Fugitive Slave Law
Definition: law passed as part of the Compromise of 1850. This law made it tougher on slaves who ran away and demanded stricter punishment for those helping slaves run away.
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The Fugitive Slave Law
Find out more about the law itself, including perspectives from leading figures of the time.
Text of the Law
Read the law for yourself. (It's not very long, but it packs a punch.)