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What was the fugitive slavery act?

Updated: 9/28/2023
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The Fugitive Slave Law was enacted by the United States Congress in1793. It allowed the owner of a runaway slave to recover his slave by merely appearing before any magistrate and declare that the slave in question belonged to him. The law further held state and local officials responsible for capturing runaway slaves and returning them to their owners. In 1842, the Supreme Court ruled that law enforcement officers in the states were not obliged to assist Federal officials in these endeavors. However, Congress enacted, as part of the Compromise of 1850, a more rigorous Fugitive Salve Law which required state and local officials to assist and cooperate with federal officials in the capture and return runaway slaves. This meant that runaway slaves were not completely safe until they reached Canada. It also put those who were assisting escaped slaves in violation of federal law.

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Q: What was the fugitive slavery act?
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Related questions

Was the fugitive slave act anti or pro slavery?

The Fugitive Slave Act was a pro-slavery part of the Compromise of 1850.


What were the effects of the fugitive act?

The Fugitive Slave Act forced many people to consider the pros and cons of slavery in the United States. The effect of the Fugitive Slave Act was the freeing of slaves.


What was the slavery law called in 1850?

The slavery law in 1850 was the Fugitive Slave Act.


What were the effects of the Fugitive Slave Act?

The Fugitive Slave Act forced many people to consider the pros and cons of slavery in the United States. The effect of the Fugitive Slave Act was the freeing of slaves.


What act of legislature renewed Lincoln's passion against slavery?

The Fugitive Slave Act


What were the effects of the fugitive slave acts?

The Fugitive Slave Act forced many people to consider the pros and cons of slavery in the United States. The effect of the Fugitive Slave Act was the freeing of slaves.


What major events led to the end of slavery in US?

the fugitive slave act


Did anti-slavery advocates support the fugitive salve act?

To the contrary, Anti-Slavery advocates vehemently opposed the Fugitive Slave Act. It allowed slave hunters to take runaway slaves back to the South from anywhere in the country.


What were the effects of the fugitives slave act?

The Fugitive Slave Act forced many people to consider the pros and cons of slavery in the United States. The effect of the Fugitive Slave Act was the freeing of slaves.


What effect did the fugitive slave act have on the abolitionist feelings?

The Fugitive Slave Law brought the issue home to anti-slavery citizens in the North as it made them and their institutions responsible for enforcing slavery.


What was the reaction to president pierce's enforcement of the fugitive slave act?

it hardened the opposition to slavery


How did the fugitive slave act increase tensions over the issue of slavery?

mr. mercer