On February 12, 1793, President George Washington signed the First Fugitive Slave Act into law. It empowered enslavers to recover escaped enslaved people across state lines and penalized anyone who aided in their escape. Alexandria, then part of the newly formed District of Columbia, became a key location in enforcing the law. As a port city situated near the border with free states, Alexandria saw increased activity from slave catchers and federal marshals. The city’s courts and jails played a growing role in detaining alleged fugitives, and its location made it a strategic point for the trafficking of enslaved individuals, both north and south.
The act was strengthened in 1850 as part of the Compromise of 1850, placing even harsher penalties on those assisting fugitives and requiring greater cooperation from local officials. See the 1850 entry in the timeline for more details.