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The Fugitive Slave Law: Why To Be A Slave

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Why to be a slave catcher:

The Fugitive Slave Law stated that it was the law that every citizen was responsible for helping in recovering and returning of fugitive slaves. This basically meant that any white person from the North or South was expected to be a fugitive slave catcher. Anyone who was caught aiding slaves to freedom or hiding slaves were punished for their efforts. There was a drastic fugitive slave catching which involved about 200 U.S. Marines. The Marines escorted one fugitive slave back to his owner.

Why to help a slave:

Prior to the Fugitive Slave Act, northerners could view slavery at a distance. Slavery was mainly dealt with by southerners. This act forced people in northern states to take sides on

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