Fugitive Slave Act/ Law

• this law was pass to protect the properties of the Masters
• This law was passed on 1793
• if the North say any slaves they had to be "good citizen" and report it to the south , or hold it for the owner.
• heavy penalties were imposed upon anyone who helps a slaves
• The law stated that in future any federal marshal who did not arrest an alleged runaway slave could be fined $1,000. People suspected of being a runaway slave could be arrested without warrant and turned over to a claimant on nothing more than his sworn testimony of ownership. A suspected black slave could not ask for a jury trial nor testify on his or her behalf.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USASfugitive.htm

http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0819828.html