Fugitive Slaves (1619-1865)

"Fugitive Slaves (1619-1865)" by Marion Gleason McDougall is a historical work examining the lives of runaway slaves in America, from the initial arrival of slaves in 1619 onward. The book examines the laws, mindsets, and personal stories that defined what enslaved people went through as they pursued freedom. It begins by looking at the beginnings of slavery in the American colonies and explains how this led to laws regarding fugitive slaves in different kinds of colonies, like those of New England, the Dutch, and the South. The book points out the difficulties slaves had when trying to escape slave owners, and explains efforts by owners to get them back. McDougall aims to clarify common misunderstandings and present a better view of this important part of American history, and the struggles and recaptures that helped define the time.