Escaping Conflict: The Journey of the Underground Railroad

 

Reform: Personal Liberty Laws

By creating the Personal Liberty Laws which protected the rights of runaway slaves, states attempted to nullify the unconstitutional Fugitive Slave Laws.

     ·         Passed by many Northern states
 
     ·         Granted runaway slaves in court habeas corpus
      o    Habeas Corpus Law – required state judges to “protect, defend, and procure to be discharged”  any slave tried for escaping

     ·
         Offered jury at runaway slave cases
 
     ·         Challenged state power vs. federal power
      o   In 1830s southern states fought for state rights (allow slavery), and northern states fought for federal power against southern opinion (abolish slavery)
      o   In 1850s southern states fought for federal power against northern opinion (capture slaves), and northern states fought for state rights (let slaves run away)
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Caught runaway slaves were put on trial to determine if they would be returned to their owners or freed. Personal Liberty Laws protected the rights of slaves during their trial.
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