Underground Railroad: The William Still Story
Fugitive Slave Act
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The Fugitive Slave Act was an attempt by the government to appease southern slave states.
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was the last attempt by the government in Washington to appease the southern slave states and shut down the Underground Railroad. It required every state and territory in the United States to assist in the return of fugitive slaves and gave slave owners the right to seek them out even in states that had abolished slavery.
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Funding provided by CN Railway, Rogers Cable Network, Canada Media Fund, and Rogers Documentary Fund. Additional support from David W. Pretty, Vernon Achber & Phil Lind, and CPB.
Underground Railroad: The William Still Story
Fugitive Slave Act
Clip | 2m 15sVideo has Closed Captions
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was the last attempt by the government in Washington to appease the southern slave states and shut down the Underground Railroad. It required every state and territory in the United States to assist in the return of fugitive slaves and gave slave owners the right to seek them out even in states that had abolished slavery.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Underground Railroad: The William Still Story
Underground Railroad: The William Still Story is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Preview | 30s | This is the story of a man who risked his life shepherding runaway slaves to freedom. (30s)
William Still's Place in History
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Clip | 2m 18s | William Still earned the name "The Father of the Underground Railroad". (2m 18s)
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Clip | 3m 16s | In the 1850s many Americans believed that slaves were incapable of surviving on their own. (3m 16s)
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Clip | 1m 46s | Slaves who ran away from their masters and were re-captured suffered terrible punishments. (1m 46s)
Origin of the name Underground Railroad
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Clip | 1m 19s | Historians have never been able to pin down how the Underground Railroad got its name. (1m 19s)
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Clip | 2m 27s | Well-known Negro Spirituals of the mid-1800s are much more complex than they first appear. (2m 27s)
Sydney Still's Run for Freedom
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Clip | 3m 15s | Program Segment for PBS Learning Media (3m 15s)
The Fugitive Slave Act Classroom Segment
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Clip | 2m 45s | Program segment for PBS Learning Media (2m 45s)
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Clip | 5m 26s | Program segment for PBS Learning Media. (5m 26s)
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Clip | 1m 18s | Program segment for PBS Learning Media. (1m 18s)
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Clip | 2m 15s | The Fugitive Slave Act was an attempt by the government to appease southern slave states. (2m 15s)
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Funding provided by CN Railway, Rogers Cable Network, Canada Media Fund, and Rogers Documentary Fund. Additional support from David W. Pretty, Vernon Achber & Phil Lind, and CPB.