Final answer:
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 increased penalties for those who failed to arrest runaways and for those who tried to help them, denying accused runaways a jury trial and the right to testify in their own defense. The law favored southern slaveholders and was opposed by many Northerners. Despite challenges, abolitionists in the North formed vigilance committees to protect and help fugitive slaves.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 made it harder for slaves to run away by increasing penalties for those who failed to arrest runaways and for individuals who tried to help them. The law required all citizens to assist in capturing fugitive slaves and allowed U.S. Marshalls to deputize citizens for this purpose. It also denied accused runaways the right to a jury trial and made it possible to send free blacks back to slavery based solely on the testimony of individuals claiming to be their owners.
The law also favored southern slaveholders, as federal commissioners who determined that a defendant was a slave received a higher fee compared to those who determined that the defendant was free. Many Northerners opposed the law and obstructed its implementation, as they saw it as a national sanction on slavery and a violation of their states' freedom of choice. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 further fueled the tensions and violence of the 1850s, contributing to the eventual outbreak of the Civil War.
Despite the challenges posed by the Fugitive Slave Act, some black and white abolitionists in the North formed vigilance committees and used daring tactics to protect and help fugitive slaves. However, many fugitives chose to escape to Canada rather than risk capture and return to slavery under the provisions of the Act.
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