The last Fugitive Slave Act was passed in 1850. It forced citizens to help catch fugitive runaways. Slaves were denied the right ot trial by jury. If somebody interfered with the process of rendition, they could be fined with 1,000 dollars and get 6 months in jail. As a result , angry abolitionists redoubled their efforts to help fugitives; Vermont and Wisconsin passed laws that bypassed and nullified the act.
