What was the fugative act?

Answer 1

The Fugitive Slave Act, enacted in 1850 as part of the Compromise of 1850, mandated that escaped slaves found in free states be returned to their enslavers. It imposed penalties on individuals who aided fugitive slaves and required law enforcement to assist in their capture. The law intensified the national debate over slavery and contributed to increased tensions between the North and South, ultimately playing a role in the lead-up to the Civil War.