1851

Indiana's 1851 constitution, approved by voters, contained Article XIII explicitly prohibiting Black people from settling, residing, or acquiring property in the state — the most sweeping racial exclusion law enacted by any free state. Violators could be fined; money collected was used to colonize Black Indianans in Africa. Several other states — Illinois, Oregon — passed similar exclusion provisions. These 'Black Laws' demonstrated that anti-Black racism was not confined to the slaveholding South and that 'free' did not mean equal for Black Americans in the antebellum North. The provisions remained technically in effect until 1881.

Indiana's 1851 state constitution contains Article XIII explicitly prohibiting Black or mixed-race people from settling in the state. Existing Black residents were required to register. Whites employing or contracting with Black migrants faced fines. The provision was approved by 84% of Indiana voters in a referendum. Illinois also maintains strict Black exclusion statutes.

Boston's Vigilance Committee storms a courthouse to free Shadrach Minkins from federal custody under the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act.

Black residents of Christiana, Pennsylvania take up arms against slave-catchers under the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act, killing an enslaver.

A Syracuse crowd of thousands breaks into a jail to free William "Jerry" Henry, defying the Fugitive Slave Act.