Fugitive slaves in the United States
Okay kiddo, let me explain to you about fugitive slaves in the United States. A long time ago, there was a terrible practice called slavery. This means that some people were treated very badly and forced to work for free on farms or businesses, just because of the color of their skin. Slaves didn't have any rights and sometimes, they would try to escape and run away to be free. When slaves ran away, they were called fugitives.
Now, imagine you are a fugitive slave, and you're trying to run far away from your master, who wants to catch you and bring you back to work for free. This was really hard to do, because there were many people who were always keeping an eye out for runaway slaves, and if they found you, they would send you back to your master.
In 1850, the United States government passed a law called the Fugitive Slave Act. This law made it illegal for people to help fugitive slaves or hide them. If someone helped a runaway slave, they would be punished with a fine or even go to jail. This made it even harder for slaves to escape.
Many people didn't agree with the Fugitive Slave Act and wanted to help slaves find freedom. They formed groups called the Underground Railroad. This wasn't a real train like we have today, but a secret network of people who helped slaves escape to Canada, which was a free country.
So, to sum it up, Fugitive slaves are people who run away from their masters to be free. They were hunted down and punished under the Fugitive Slave Act, a law that made it illegal to help them. Thankfully, there were people who formed the Underground Railroad to help slaves find freedom. Today, slavery is illegal, and we believe that all people should be treated with respect and fairness, no matter who they are.
Now, imagine you are a fugitive slave, and you're trying to run far away from your master, who wants to catch you and bring you back to work for free. This was really hard to do, because there were many people who were always keeping an eye out for runaway slaves, and if they found you, they would send you back to your master.
In 1850, the United States government passed a law called the Fugitive Slave Act. This law made it illegal for people to help fugitive slaves or hide them. If someone helped a runaway slave, they would be punished with a fine or even go to jail. This made it even harder for slaves to escape.
Many people didn't agree with the Fugitive Slave Act and wanted to help slaves find freedom. They formed groups called the Underground Railroad. This wasn't a real train like we have today, but a secret network of people who helped slaves escape to Canada, which was a free country.
So, to sum it up, Fugitive slaves are people who run away from their masters to be free. They were hunted down and punished under the Fugitive Slave Act, a law that made it illegal to help them. Thankfully, there were people who formed the Underground Railroad to help slaves find freedom. Today, slavery is illegal, and we believe that all people should be treated with respect and fairness, no matter who they are.