Final answer:
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was a law that allowed slave hunters to capture and return escaped slaves, even in free states. It also required citizens to assist in the capture of runaway slaves and denied accused fugitive slaves the right to trial by jury. The act increased tensions between the North and the South, and had a significant impact on the lives of both enslaved individuals and free blacks.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was a law passed by the United States Congress as part of the Compromise of 1850. Its purpose was to provide a legal framework for the capture and return of escaped slaves to their owners. The act had several key provisions:
- It required all citizens to assist in the capture of runaway slaves, making it illegal to provide aid or assistance to escapees.
- It permitted slave hunters to cross state lines and capture fugitive slaves even in free states.
- It established special commissioners who were responsible for deciding the fate of fugitive slaves and had the power to issue certificates of removal.
- It denied the right to a trial by jury for accused fugitive slaves.
- It imposed fines and even imprisonment on those who helped slaves escape or hindered their capture.
- It led to increased tensions between the North and the South, as the act was seen by abolitionists as a concession to the slaveholding states.
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 had a significant impact on the lives of both enslaved individuals and free blacks. It increased the risk of being captured and returned to slavery for those who had managed to escape, and it also resulted in the kidnapping and enslavement of some free-born blacks.
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