THE FUGITIVE SLAVE ACT OF 1793

IN 1793 THE US CONGRESS PASSED THE FUGITIVE SLAVE ACT THAT PLACED THE AUTHORITY OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BEHIND THE RECOVERY OF SLAVES BY MASTERS. THE LAW MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR SLAVES TO ESCAPE BONDAGE BY ALLOWING MASTERS TO FOLLOW SLAVES TO THE NORTH, CAPTURE SUSPECTED FUGITIVES, BRING THEM BEFORE A JUDGE AND CLAIM THEM AS ESCAPED SLAVES. THIS LAW PROVOKED CONSIDERABLE SUPPORT AND SYMPATHY FOR RUNWAY SLAVES IN THE NORTH AND LED SOME WHITES TO ASSIST RUNAWAYS IN THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.