Question

Why did the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 cause significant controversy in the Northern states?


It allowed enslaved people to escape to Canada without punishment.


It required Northerners to assist in capturing runaway enslaved people, even if they opposed slavery.


It banned the publication of anti-slavery literature in Northern states.


It prohibited the establishment of abolitionist societies in the North.

Answer 1

It required Northerners to assist in capturing runaway enslaved people, even if they opposed slavery.

Explanation: The law forced private citizens and local officials to help catch and return alleged fugitives, imposed penalties for refusal, and denied basic legal protections to the accused — provoking widespread Northern outrage.