What effect did the Fugitive Slave Act have? Select the two correct answers.
(1 point)
The Fugitive Slave Act had the following effects:
1) It increased tensions between the Northern and Southern states: The Fugitive Slave Act required Northern states to assist in the capture and return of escaped slaves, regardless of their personal beliefs or local laws. This angered many Northerners who were opposed to slavery and saw it as a violation of their own principles and rights. It heightened the divide between the Northern states, where anti-slavery sentiment was growing, and the Southern states, where slavery was deeply rooted and defended.
2) It strengthened the abolitionist movement: The Fugitive Slave Act sparked outrage among abolitionists and stimulated their activism. Protests, demonstrations, and acts of civil disobedience against the law became more common, and the Fugitive Slave Act played a role in mobilizing support for the abolitionist cause. The Act fueled anti-slavery sentiment in the North and helped to galvanize the opposition to slavery leading up to the American Civil War.
1) It strengthened the resolve of abolitionists to fight against slavery.
2) It created a sense of fear and insecurity among free African Americans who now faced the possibility of being captured and returned to slavery.