One result of the Compromise of 1850 that did not benefit the North was the Fugitive Slave Act. This act required citizens to assist in the capture and return of runaway slaves, even if they were in free states. This was particularly unpopular in the North, where many people opposed slavery and supported the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses for escaping slaves. The Fugitive Slave Act further inflamed tensions between the North and South, as it forced Northern citizens to support and participate in the institution of slavery.
