This was a law created and passed to law by the American congress. The law was the most controversial law to be passed in regards to the issue on slavery. The law stipulated that all slaves that had escaped must be captured and returned to their masters. A soldier who would capture a runaway slave was entitled to a bonus on their incentives. A civilian who had encountered a slave and failed to turn them in were liable for punishment. Additionally, ant person who would offer slaves food, water or shelter were also liable to punishment (Stampp, 1990).
Factors that led to the creation of this law were influenced by the parties involved in it. They included the judiciary system, the ruling administration and the citizens. The most influential factor was the ruling administration which instigated the formulation of the law. With the judiciary system under its authority the ruling factor ensured all their wishes were fulfilled even in the legal front. In an argument by Stampp (1990) the ruling power did not like the rate in which the Free states was growing. The y wanted to minimize their influence across America.
The judiciary on the other hand was reluctant in enforcing the new law. Many court systems failed to convict individuals who had broken the rules. In numerous cases the courts rule that no slave was entitled to trial under the America constitution. The citizens across the country were divided on this issue. With the majority of the slaves being blacks, they had support from the less black population in the country. The white population on the other hand was for the law which would have guaranteed that most of them would have free human labor.
References
Stampp, K. (1990). America in 1857: A nation on the Brink. New York: Oxford University Press.
