They were technically free. But the Fugitive Slave Laws said that any escaped slave must be returned. So if they were caught they had to go back.
Answer:
One way Africans responded to European slave traders is that a few West Africans refused to take part in the slave trade, but it was hard to resist the Europeans.
Second way is that other West Africans tried to find slaves outside their own nations.
Third way is that the people of West Africa had many different opinions about the slave trade with Europeans.
or
1. A few refused to trade
2. Some traded outside their community
3. Some traded own servants, prisoners
Explanation:
Many believed that look was not a thing no more and it didn't exist
To try and cut off their supply lines that were coming in from other countries
