One effect of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was increased tensions between the Northern and Southern states. The Act required citizens to assist in the capture and return of escaped slaves, regardless of their personal beliefs or moral objections to slavery. This led to unrest and opposition in Northern states, as many citizens refused to comply with the law and actively worked to help fugitive slaves reach freedom in Canada or other safe locations. This heightened division between the North and South eventually contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861.
