Final answer:
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 caused widespread involvement, protest, and defiance due to its harsh provisions and undermining of local and state laws. Abolitionists resorted to violence, and northerners staged demonstrations to protect fugitives from federal authorities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 created special federal commissioners to determine the fate of alleged fugitives without a jury trial or court testimony. It required local authorities in the North to assist in capturing fugitives and prohibited interference with their capture. Additionally, the act undermined local and state laws and fostered corruption, as federal commissioners were paid more for determining that a person was a slave rather than free.
The harsh provisions of the Fugitive Slave Act caused many people to get involved, protest the act, or even defy it. Abolitionists such as Frederick Douglass believed that standing up against the law required violence. Some northern citizens tried to protect fugitives from federal authorities, leading to mass demonstrations and confrontations. The law also pushed many free black northerners to flee to Canada.