Final answer:
The U.S. Marshals Service enforced the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, requiring citizens to assist in capturing runaway slaves and deputizing them if necessary. The law was met with resistance in the North, offered financial incentives favoring slaveholders, and denied legal rights to the accused, heightening tensions between the North and South.
Step-by-step explanation:
The role of the U.S. Marshals Service during the implementation of the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 was integral in enforcing a controversial piece of legislation that significantly impacted the lives of African-Americans, both free and enslaved. The law required all citizens to assist in the apprehension of fugitive slaves, with U.S. Marshals granted the authority to deputize citizens for this purpose. Strong resistance emerged in the north, as many viewed the law as favoring southern slaveholders and infringing on states' rights.
Northern opposition to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was a testament to the growing rift between the North and South over issues of slavery and states' rights. The Department of Justice, which oversees the U.S. Marshals, maintains the responsibility to enforce laws and ensure public safety, an ethos that was put to the test during this period. The law's preference for slaveholders and the financial incentive provided to commissioners who ruled in favor of slave owners led to significant northern resistance and played a role in increasing tensions that would eventually lead to the Civil War.
Moreover, the risk of free blacks being kidnapped and sold into slavery underscores the perilous nature of the time and the role of federal law enforcement in these activities. The Fugitive Slave Act stripped those accused of being runaways of basic legal rights such as a jury trial and the right to testify in their defense, contributing to a system that operated on accusations rather than evidence.