northerners refused to listen to the law
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The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 intensified opposition to slavery in the North by requiring northerners to assist in the capture and return of escaped slaves. This led to heightened tensions between pro- and anti-slavery factions, as many people in the North resented being forced to participate in the enforcement of slavery. The act also sparked a wave of resistance and defiance, with some northerners aiding fugitive slaves in their escape.
It angered Northerners, because they were forced to return slaves that had escaped back to their owners in the South.
Southerners expected Northerners to comply with the Fugitive Slave Act by helping to capture and return escaped slaves. However, many Northerners reacted with resistance, forming anti-slavery groups to hide and protect fugitive slaves and refusing to cooperate with authorities trying to enforce the law. This led to increased tensions between the North and South over the issue of slavery.
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 allowed slave owners to pursue escaped slaves into free states, where Northerners who aided the slaves could be fined or imprisoned. This law was part of a series of legislation that aimed to maintain the institution of slavery in the United States.
Northerners supported the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 to maintain the fragile union between the North and South. Many believed it was a necessary compromise to prevent secession and avoid further conflict over slavery. Additionally, some northerners believed in upholding the Constitution, which included provisions for the return of escaped slaves.
The Fugitive Slave Act angered northerners because it required them to assist in the capture and return of escaped slaves, going against their beliefs in abolitionism and freedom. It also denied alleged fugitive slaves the right to a fair trial by jury, leading to fears of unjust apprehension and enslavement.