the connecticut legislature passed the "black law". this law made it illegal to open a school that taught african american pupils from a state other than connecticut. crandall was arrested, tried, and convicted of violating this law. she was put in jail. a higher court reversed the decision. crandall was freed, but neighbors harassed her. they smashed the windows in the school. crandall feared for the students’ safety. she closed the school in 1834.