Fugitive Slave Act of 1850: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Slave kidnap post 1851 boston.jpg|thumb|250px|An April 24, 1851 poster warning colored people in Boston about policemen acting as slave catchers.]]

The '''Fugitive Slave Law''' or '''Fugitive SiilaveSlave Act''' was passed by the [[United States Congress]] on [[September 18]], [[1850]], as part of the [[Compromise of 1850]] between [[Southern United States|Southern]] [[slavery|slaveholding]] interests and [[northern United States|Northern]] [[United States Free Soil Party|Free-Soilers]].

A significant source of conflict between Southern [[slave state]]s and Northern [[free state]]s was the lack of assistance given by Northerners to Southern slave-owners and their agents, who were seeking to recapture [[Runaway slaves|escaped slaves]]. Many Southerners viewed this as support for [[abolitionism]], and resented Northern officials' refusal to respect Southern [[states' rights]]. In contrast, most Northern states had abolished slavery within their borders, and many Northern officials did not want their local institutions to be used to support the enforcement of Southern states' slavery laws. They viewed efforts to compel such assistance as an infringement of Northern states' rights.