Virginia, the first British colony in North America, was plagued with the problem of slave flight. There was no protection against rape. slave / slv/ n. chiefly hist. In the event they captured a suspected runaway, these hunters had to bring them before a judge and provide evidence proving the person was their property. [41] Although Southern mores regarded white women as dependent and submissive, black women were often consigned to a life of sexual exploitation. Following increased pressure from Southern politicians, Congress passed a revised Fugitive Slave Act in 1850. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1985. Prude, Jonathan. Children, free women, indentured servants, and men were not immune from abuse by masters and owners. Concerned that these new free states would become safe havens for runaways, Southern politicians saw that the Constitution included a Fugitive Slave Clause. This stipulation (Article 4, Section 2, Clause 3) stated that, no person held to service or labor would be released from bondage in the event they escaped to a free state. WebIt also denied enslaved people the right to a jury trial and increased the penalty for interfering with the rendition process to $1,000 and six months in jail. [20] Tubman followed northsouth flowing rivers and the north star to make her way north. He whopped You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Some Considerations on the Keeping of Negroes A fatty piece of pork was cooked by the fire. WebIn the United States, fugitive slaves or runaway slaves were terms used in the 18th and 19th centuries to describe people who fled slavery. The Underground Railroad reached its peak in the 1850s, with many enslaved people fleeing to Canada to escape U.S. jurisdiction. Women were encouraged to have children at a young age, and as primary caregivers, running away with children obviously proved more difficult. But we dont need to look any further than our own history for these examples. Despite the risks, some female slaves fled with their children, and there are hundreds of instances where they ran while pregnant. "[20] During the American Civil War, Tubman also worked as a spy, cook, and a nurse.[20].