Question

What was a provision of the new fugitive slave act. check all that apply.

O northerners were expected to help capture runaway slaves.
O runaway slaves had a right to defend themselves at trial.
O slaves who escaped to the north could be re-enslaved if captured.
O which statement best describes northern reactions to the fugitive slave act.
O they didn’t like the measure, but accepted it as a part of the compromise.
O many law enforcement officials refused to enforce the law.
O they believed it was legally proper to return escaped slaves to their owners.

Answer 1

The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 mandated northerners to assist in the capture of runaway slaves and did not allow these individuals to defend themselves at trial. The correct answer is option 2.

Step-by-step explanation:

Provisions of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 included several controversial measures that created tension between the North and the South. First, northerners were expected to assist in the capture of runaway slaves, with penalties including fines and jail time for those who refused or obstructed enforcement. Secondly, runaway slaves had no right to a jury trial or to defend themselves at trial. If captured, slaves who had escaped to the North could be re-enslaved.

Northern reactions to the Fugitive Slave Act varied, but overall, there was significant opposition. Some officials refused to enforce the law, and many citizens were against the principle of being forced to act as slave-catchers. The law was perceived as an overreach of federal authority, impinging upon state and local laws, and providing financial incentives to commissioners that were biased toward slaveholders' claims.