- The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was a component of the Compromise of 1850.
- It was an act that was passed by Congress on September 18, 1850.
- The statute mandated the return of slaves to their masters, regardless of whether or not they were in a free state at the time.
- In addition, the legislation assigned the responsibility to the federal government for locating, returning, and prosecuting runaway slaves.
What was the main purpose of the Fugitive Slave Act?
In the history of the United States, the Fugitive Slave Acts were statutes that were passed by Congress in 1793 and 1850 (and repealed in 1864) that provided for the seizure and return of runaway slaves who escaped from one state into another or into a federal territory. These laws provided for the return of slaves who had escaped from a state into a federal territory.
What was the main purpose of the Fugitive Slave Law quizlet?
Runaway slaves could be apprehended anywhere in the United States thanks to a statute that was enacted in 1850 and made it legal to do so. It was possible for the slaves to be restored to their original masters. A person was subject to penalties and maybe incarceration if they assisted slaves in escaping slavery.