Final answer:
The U.S. government was compelled to address the issue of runaway slaves in May 1861 due to General Benjamin F. Butler categorizing those who fled to Union lines as 'contraband of war,' leading to Congress's First Confiscation Act. This act began to form the basis of a standard policy on how runaway slaves would be treated, allowing them to remain with the Union army and invalidating claims by their former masters.
Step-by-step explanation:
How Was the U.S. Government Forced to Address the Status of Runaway Slaves in May 1861?
In May 1861, the United States government was forced to address the status of runaway slaves primarily by the actions of General Benjamin F. Butler. At Fortress Monroe in Virginia, Butler treated runaway slaves as 'contraband of war,' reasoning that if Southern states seceded, he did not have to adhere to federal fugitive slave laws. This strategic move came to foreground after the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, which had placed severe sanctions on those who did not assist in capturing runaway slaves and afforded suspected runaways no legal defense. In effect, Butler's defiance and the ensuing necessity for a uniform approach during the escalating conflict led to Congress confirming this policy in the First Confiscation Act.
The act ultimately allowed slaves who escaped to Union lines to be emancipated from their masters' claims, although they were not instantly granted the status of free citizens. These runaways, often living in dire conditions within 'contraband camps,' were repurposed to assist in the Union cause, which included manual labor essential to the war effort. The Union's choice to retain escaped slaves significantly undermined the Confederacy's labor force while gradually moving towards a more standardized policy on slavery as the war progressed.