Final answer:
As a northern African American in the 1850s, my response would be characterized by concern and determined activism against proslavery policies, with the hope that the Civil War's conclusion and Reconstruction might bring positive change, despite skepticism due to oppressive post-war Black Codes.
Step-by-step explanation:
If I were a northern African American in the 1850s, my response to the policies of the U.S. government would likely be one of deep concern, activism, and hope for positive change. During this period, there existed a volatile atmosphere concerning slavery and the rights of African Americans, with proslavery forces pushing for stricter controls and abolitionists demanding liberation and equality.
The 1850s witnessed a slew of aggressive actions and policies towards African Americans and the abolitionist movement. Escaping slaves faced harsh realities due to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 which mandated that runaway slaves be returned to their masters, not only in the Southern slave states but also in the free states of the North. Northern African Americans would likely work towards resisting these oppressive practices, many participating in the Underground Railroad or engaging in civil disobedience to undermine proslavery laws.
However, the outbreak of the Civil War in the early 1860s presented a turning point. The North's eventual victory and the Emancipation Proclamation would serve as a beacon of hope that reconstructive policies could potentially lead to lasting societal reform and the betterment of the lives of African Americans. Yet, with the enactment of Black Codes in the South after the war, which aimed to restore ante-bellum power dynamics, African Americans would probably also be skeptical of whether the government would truly uphold the equality it professed to support.