The Significance of the Fugitive Slave Act was put in place because the slaves kept running away from the masters and they were wanted back. This Law meant that you could bring back the slaves no matter where they were. Some of the northern states declared Personal Liberty Laws("Laws passed by U.S. states in the North to counter the Fugitive Slave Acts.") It gave them the right to go into the North and bring back the slaves that they viewed as property. They had to get a judge to determine whether they could remove the person they felt is a runaway slave. Slavery was outlawed in the North of america before UK and England. The Missouri Supreme Court voluntarily transported the slaves to free states which automatically made the slaves free. The act was designed for the south to be able to go to the north and search for their run-away slaves and also be able to go into a northerners house and search for them. Many run-aways were caught and returned due to this act and also many officers got bonuses.