Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

The Fugitive Slave Act (also called the Fugitive Slave Law) was made law by the US Congress on September 18, 1850. Part of the Compromise of 1850, the law required slaves who were caught after their escape to be sent back to their owners.

The law also required officials and private citizens of free states to co-operate in returning slaves who had fled. The law was hated in the North, which was required it to help slaveovners in the South. Massive resistance to the law was reason for the regions to grow further apart, which led to the American Civil War.

Category:United States federal legislation