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American Experience
Clip: Season 25 Episode 12 | 2m 19s

The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 made the hunting down of escaped slaves, even in free states, fully legal. To abolitionists, this represented a huge blow to their efforts. Not only had the federal government endorsed slavery, but it had also committed to preserving the institution indefinitely.

Aired: 01/08/13

Rating: NR

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American Experience | Fugitive Slave Act | Season 25 | Episode 12 | PBS

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American Experience Clip: Season 25 Episode 12 | 2m 19s The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 made the hunting down of escaped slaves, even in free states, fully legal. To abolitionists, this represented a huge blow to their efforts. Not only had the federal government endorsed slavery, but it had also committed to preserving the institution indefinitely.

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Sound Smart: The Lincoln-Douglass Debates | History

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Later, the Second Great Awakening gained popularity, where God would bless followers who did good deeds. And that was banning slavery for some. When the 1830's rolled around Congress was being bombarded with anti-slavery petitions. WIth the increase of disagreement the less effective the Compromise was getting.

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This Compromise added 5 new bills passed by the Congress to release tension between the North and South. California is a free state, Salve trade was prohibited in Washington D.C, Utah and New Mexico could determine if they wanted to be free or slave state, people were forces to participate in the Fugitive Slave Act and Texas gets 10 million dollars.

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As Lincoln became president he was against the spread of slavery, South Carolina angry with his decision wanted no part in the union anymore. With there lead 10 more states followed along with there secession, making the Confederate states. Lincoln hoped he could resolve this without war, but soon enough there was hostility at Fort Sumter.

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11 - Abraham Lincoln is Elected as President

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11 - Abraham Lincoln is Elected as President

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Lincoln part of the state legislature, he lost the spot for Senate multiple times but with his losses he gained prominence and his disagreement with slavery. When it was election day Lincoln won with most of electoral votes.The North had many more people than the South and therefore control of the Electoral College.

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Lincoln challenged Douglas a Democratic while he was Republican to a series of debates on the topic of slavery. Douglas trying to paint Lincoln as a dangerous advocate for equality, Lincoln brought up the morality of slavery that led everyone to question just that.

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Dred Scott a slave who sued for his freedom after he moved from a slave state to a free state, but he could not argue for his freedom since at that time African Americans could not be U.S. citizens. This clear argument upsetted Northerners and received by Southerners.

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The senator of Massachusetts, Charles Sunner, was in disbelief over the mass violence in Kansas. While in the chamber in congress Senator Preston Brookes attacks the abolitionist till he was unconscious. This kind of violence was one of the many violent mishaps that happened between Congressmen.

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Known as Bleeding Kansas for it's harsh violence that erupted between pro and anti slavery. The two sides fought through murder, attacks, raids and elctoral frauds to sway the votes to there side to be a free or slave state.

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Once again, the Congress passed for Nebraska and Kansas to decided whether they wanted to be a free state or a slave state. With this decision of the states this made the Missouri Compromise of 1820 invalid since it allowed slavery past the latitude line.

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The seize and return of slaves was passed and everyone had to participate if one had escaped. This angered the North more and the pressure between the South started again.

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As a rebellion broke out, more slaves started to run away, fugitives were helped by others. Slaves at that time were seen as nothing but something there masters own.

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During the increase of state tension over the issue of slavery, the U.S. Congress passed a law that admitted Missouri to the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state. While banning slavery from the remaining this law prohibited slavery in the Louisiana Territory.