Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

The Fugitive Slave Act (also called the Fugitive Slave Law) was made law by the United States Congress on September 18, 1850. It was a part of the Compromise of 1850. It required that slaves who escaped but were caught had to be sent back to the slaver. The Act also made officials and private citizens of free states cooperate in returning the escaped slaves. The Act was part of the reason the Northern states and Southern states grew further apart, which led to the American Civil War.