(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

Fugitive Slaves and the Politics of Slavery After 1850

            Critique on "Dispossessing Massa: Fugitive Slaves and the Politics of Slavery After 1850.
             Blackett begins the article discussing eights slaves who collaborated an escape to leave their masters of Ste Genevieve. The author states that the fugitives of Ste Genevieve were miners that made a conscious decision to leave their owners. The slaves headed to Sparta which had an active abolitionist community during the 1850s and 1860. The abolitionists would offer them shelter on their journey to freedom. Their masters knew of this resource of abolitionists and sent police for them to be captured. But the slaves may have been aware of their master's plans. They proceeded to evade capture by heading north to Alton. In Alton, three of the men were captured while shopping by a local. It was possible that the white citizen saw an advertisement describing the slave in a local newspaper. According to the author, slave owners used advertisement in daily periodicals as a frequent tool in order to capture an escaped slave. The slave owners placed these advertisements in newspapers that reflected their political affiliations. In this literary work, the author explains to the reader how the actions of fleeing slaves subsequently affected American politics in the mid-nineteenth century.
             Many fugitive slaves located near free territory were more likely to escape from their masters in groups such as the eight slave men of Ste Genevieve. These groups of slaves were called stampedes. The author's observation that slaves located in the areas of St. Louis, Nashville, and Richmond were more likely to escape in stampedes is an observation made of pure logic. In areas neighboring free territory the frequency of slaves is bound to increase. For runaways closer to free territory the task would be easier because of their ability to blend in with the free blacks of the North. The slaves escaped their masters constantly utilizing the stampede mechanism during the 1850s and 1860s.


Essays Related to Fugitive Slaves and the Politics of Slavery After 1850

1. The Expansion and Abolition of Slavery

American politics and culture during the 19th century was defined almost exclusively by slavery and its expansion. ... The debate in Congress about Missouri's slave stance was a moral and a political debate. ... After the Missouri Compromise, debate over slavery seemed to die down in congress. ... Last of all, a new and much tougher fugitive slave act was introduced. The new fugitive slave law allowed slave holders to go into northern states where slavery was outlawed and retrieve runaway slaves even though they were technically in a state that was free. ...

  • Word Count: 1803
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Civil War

The Fugitive Slave Law in 1850, required the North to return escaped slaves back to their owners. ... A new law was concerning about the runaway slaves, that was The Fugitive Slave law. The fugitive slave law was so big, this why sometimes they receive a punishment. Courts enforced the fugitive law and people were judge to be runaway slaves and returned to the South. new law was concerning about the runaway slaves, that was The Fugitive Slave law. ... Another part of the compromise was the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, which provided for the return of runaway slaves to their masters. ...

  • Word Count: 1668
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Territorial Expansion

In February 1819, Congressman James Tallmadge, from New York, proposed an amendment that would prohibit any new slaves to enter the state and provided that all slave children born after the date of admission would be set free at the age of twenty-five. ... The Missouri controversy alerted the South to the need for political unity in order to maintain the "peculiar institution- of slavery and alerted the whole country to the political problems inherent to westward expansion. ... Shortly after the annexation of Texas the Mexican War broke out. ... The Compromise was designed to relieve growin...

  • Word Count: 781
  • Approx Pages: 3

4. Effects of territorial expansion

In February 1819, Congressman James Tallmadge, from New York, proposed an amendment that would prohibit any new slaves to enter the state and provided that all slave children born after the date of admission would be set free at the age of twenty-five. ... The Missouri controversy alerted the South to the need for political unity in order to maintain the "peculiar institution- of slavery and alerted the whole country to the political problems inherent to westward expansion. ... Shortly after the annexation of Texas the Mexican War broke out. ... The Compromise was designed to rel...

  • Word Count: 769
  • Approx Pages: 3

5. William Wells Brown

In January 1834, Brown escaped to freedom becoming a fugitive slave in Canada. ... In 1843, the fugitive slave became a lecturing agent for the Western New York Anti-Slavery Society. ... Brown, A Fugitive Slave. Written by Himself, which went through four American and five British editions before 1850, earning its author international fame. ... The Narrative of William Wells Brown, A Fugitive Slave was written in 1847, which was the first, and still famous, version of his autobiography. ...

  • Word Count: 1550
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Territorial Issues (civil War)

A new proposal called the Wilmot Proviso (after its writer, Congressman David Wilmot) suggested that slaves not be allowed into the new states. ... Therefore the South and their prominent political leaders were staunch defenders, and promoters of slavery. ... Douglass was against slavery, the spread of slavery, and even the fugitive slave laws that promoted it. "The fugitive slave law plunged Negroes of the North into the bitterest anguish. ... The fugitive slave law was further manifestation of the slave-holder's control over the Union." ...

  • Word Count: 1150
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

7. Civil War

"While compromise over the system of slavery was possible in 1850 it was not effective in 1860's". ... The third bill was the Fugitive State law of 1850 which was a considerable allowance given to the South, which made available for the slaves who had run away to return to their masters. ... In comparison to all the bills that actually made up the Fugitive Slave Act, the Compromise of 1850 was the most divisive. ... The passing of the fugitive slaves act made the abolitionist keener on putting an end to slavery. ... The years between 1850 and 1852 are known in American political history ...

  • Word Count: 2102
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Has Bibliography

8. Slavery

After the American Revolution slavery died in the North, as it became more popular in the South. ... There were demands for political equality and economic and social advances. ... After months of discussion Congress passed the Missouri Compromise of 1820. ... So now Congress passed the Compromise Measures of 1850 during August of 1850. ... Another part of the compromise was the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, which provided for the return of runaway slaves to their masters. ...

  • Word Count: 1672
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Grade Level: High School

9. The North, South and Slavery

And besides, everyone was profiting and benefiting from slavery, everyone besides the slaves. ... The North and South had opposing political views, and disagreed on the government's decisions on slavery. ... Also, the Compromise of 1850 satisfied no one, although the nation's capital, Washington DC, would be a free state, which the North wanted, Utah and New Mexico would be slave states. ... Northerners believed that slavery was wrong, while South felt it was right, and needed slaves for their economy. ... After a stronger fugitive slave law was imposed, the North was unhappy because...

  • Word Count: 813
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question