Discusses the Civil War formation of Contraband Camps, which were communities formed by escaped slaves. As slaves were considered property, the Union Army classified the slaves as seized contraband as a way to avoid the Fugitive Slave Act, which forced escaped slaves to return to the owners. Labeled as contraband, however, the Union army could legally claim the slaves as spoils of war, and in turn, the Union freed them. These contraband camps formed into independent communities that soon became self-sufficient, and some of the residents fought for the Union Army. Includes photographs and illustrations and critical thinking questions throughout.