Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Act
- What is the compromise of 1850 and why is the Fugitive Slave Act significant?
In the wake of the Mexican-American War, the Compromise of 1850 was formed in the attempt to resolve disputes over slavery in the United States (American Battlefield Trust). The Compromise of 1850 had five bills that made specific changes. First, the Compromise of 1850 made California a free state; it permitted slavery in Washington, D.C, and marked new boundaries for the state of Texas backing the Mexican-American war. Also, the bill allowed Utah and Mexico to decide whether they want to be a free state or a slave state. Lastly, the law necessitated citizens to help in detaining runaway slaves, and it declined enslaved people a right to trial by the tribunal (History.Com). The bill passed an increased penalty for any person that tried interfering with the rendering process.
The Fugitive Slave Act was part of the Compromise of 1850. The act made finding, returning, and trying escaped slaves their duty. By the time the Fugitive Slave Act was passed, some states were Free states that enabled slaves to flee to them. The act made it possible for the federal government to enter these states in search of slaves and return them to their owners.
- What is the Fugitive Slave Act? How did the act address the issue of slavery in 1850? Why did Congress create the second Fugitive Slave Act?
The Fugitive Slave Act is part of the Compromise of 1850 and is a revised version of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793. It has ten Sections that enabled slave owners to enter Free states in search of their slaves and made searching, finding, and trying of escaped slaves the federal government’s duty. The 1850 act had stricter laws that required state officials from all states to assist in finding slaves who had escaped or else they would pay a fine or be jailed failure to avail them.
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 permitted slaveowners to walk in any state in search of their enslaved people. This practice did not please the Northerners. Hence, they very much criticized the idea. They argued that the act could increase acts of kidnapping, and in the bid, they went to the extent of organizing resistance groups and the built safe houses to protect enslaved people. The northerners became resistant to the law. They intentionally ignored the law; hence, the need for improvement of the Fugitive Slave Act.
- Who is William Lloyd Garrison, and what arguments did he make about slavery in “On the Dissolution of the Union?”
William Lloyd Garrison (1805-1879) was an American journalistic who helped in the fight against slavery in the United States. He leads the abolitionist campaign (Biography). He is the author of The Liberator, an abolitionist paper. He continued to preach against the constitution as a pro-slavery charter even during the civil war. At last, he succeeded in his quest as that saw slavery abolished (Fair Use). William Lloyd Garrison starts by highlighting how there is discrimination by race. He cites an example in the church where people of color are coerced to occupy the Negro pew and are treated as an infected race. He further argues how the slave trade being made and entirely accepted shows how the United States is a slaveholding nation. By the constitution allowing slavery, then it remains an agreement with hell and a bargain with death. He bitterly discredits the constitution, which states everything as an act of anti-slavery law but, in the real sense, is a pro-slavery related law.
Moreover, he goes ahead to criticize the Fugitive Slave bill of how it did not succeed to be passed by Congress though that was the intent. The law has been written in such a way as one would think it is in favor of liberty but, in the real sense, oppresses slaves. William is in the bind to make people understand how the constitution is supporting slavery in the covers of the Fugitive Slave Act by saying it is inefficient and further gives two reasons for how powerless it is. One because it naturally slaves rights and two, because it directly goes against another clause of the constitution. Additionally, if the bill follows the constitution’s logic, then it should also be against slavery as the constitution. That is, William points out how there has never been a pro-slavery constitution in practice; thus, the bill is also not legally right. As seen by his arguments, William Lloyd is against slavery, and as he states it as immorally and false fully phrased in the constitution to continue bonding the unfortunate race.
- What implications about the tensions between pro-slavery supporters and abolitionists can be drawn from these documents?
Pro-slavery supporters are the group of Americans that saw slavery as a positive element, and they even used the bible to support their argument. Whereas abolitionists were people who were in the fight against slavery. Since the two groups had different interests brought a lot of resistance and disagreements. Abolitionists perceived slavery as an act of injustice to the human race. They ran campaigns and sought legislative seats all in the bind to end slavery, especially in the south. With all the effort put in place, the abolitionists’ group became a political threat that led to heated discussions, violence, and to some extent, deadly engagements. The tension resulted in the civil war and the end of slavery in America (History.com)
Works Cited
American Battlefield Trust. “Fugitive Slave Act.” American Battle Field Trust (1850). <https://www.battlefields.org/learn/primary-sources/fugitive-slave-act>.
Biography. “William Lloyd Garrison.” Biography.com (2019). <https://www.biography.com/writer/william-lloyd-garrison>.
Fair Use. “On the Dissolution of the Union.” Garrison, William L. The Liberator. Vol. XXV. 1855. 93-94. <http://fair-use.org/the-liberator/1855/06/15/on-the-dissolution-of-the-union>.
History.com. “Abolitionist Movement.” (2019). <https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/abolitionist-movement>.
History.Com. “Compromise of 1850.” History.com (2020). <https://www.history.com/topics/abolitionist-movement/compromise-of-1850>.