Final answer:
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 was a law that required escaped slaves to be returned to their owners and made it a crime to assist in their escape.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 was a law passed by the United States Congress that made it a crime to assist in the escape of slaves and required that escaped slaves be returned to their owners, even if they had reached free states. This law was part of the larger compromise between Southern and Northern states to maintain the delicate balance between slave and free states. The act allowed slaveowners or their representatives to capture and return escaped slaves, and anyone found guilty of aiding a fugitive slave could be fined or imprisoned.
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