ID: Fugitive Slave Act ## When: 1850
Who:
Part of the Compromise of 1850, drafted by Henry Clay and passed by Congress
What:
A law requiring citizens to return runaway slaves to their owners. It strengthened the previous Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 and made it a federal crime to help a runaway slave.
Impact? Why Significant?:
This law had a major impact on the debate about slavery and fueled abolitionist sentiments in the North. It led to increased tensions between the North and the South, making the country more polarized. It also led to the creation of the Underground Railroad, a network of people who helped runaway slaves escape to freedom in the North. The Fugitive Slave Act is often cited as a major factor that contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War.