Asked by Zephyr Benedict

Which of the following explains why many Northerners were opposed to the Fugitive Slave Act?
A. It opened all new territories to popular sovereignty.
B. It allowed the ownership of enslaved people, but banned the trading of enslaved people.
C. It made all citizens participate actively in supporting slavery.
D. It upset the balance of free and slave states in Congress.

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
C.

The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 required ordinary citizens, northern officials, and law enforcement to assist in the capture and return of escaped enslaved people and imposed penalties on those who refused, effectively forcing Northerners to take an active role in supporting slavery. (A, B, and D are incorrect for the reasons explained above.)