what was a provision of the figure slaves act
The Figure Slaves Act was a specific law related to enslaved people in the United States. However, it seems that you may be referring to the Fugitive Slave Act, which was part of the Compromise of 1850. This act had several provisions, including:
1. It required that all citizens assist in the capture and return of fugitive slaves.
2. It allowed slave owners and their agents to travel to free states and reclaim their escaped slaves.
3. It denied fugitive slaves the right to a trial by jury and instead established special commissioners who were authorized to determine the status of the alleged fugitive.
4. It imposed harsh penalties on anyone convicted of aiding or harboring fugitive slaves.
5. It made it illegal to hinder or obstruct the enforcement of the law.
6. It compelled law enforcement officials and ordinary citizens to assist in the capture and return of fugitive slaves, even if they personally opposed slavery.
These provisions significantly strengthened the power of slaveholders and their ability to reclaim escaped slaves, further fueling tensions between the North and the South leading up to the American Civil War.