Final answer:
The Fugitive Slave Act changed the status of fugitive slaves in Philadelphia by requiring all citizens to assist in capturing and returning runaway slaves. It undermined local and state laws and resulted in corruption and enslavement of free black northerners.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Fugitive Slave Act, part of the 1850 Compromise, changed the status of fugitive slaves in Philadelphia. This act required all citizens to assist in capturing and returning runaway slaves, and it allowed federal commissioners to decide the fate of alleged fugitives without a jury trial. Additionally, local authorities in the North could not interfere with the capture of fugitives. The law undermined local and state laws and fostered corruption and enslavement of free black northerners.