Leading the underground railroad in to further North to Canada, was due to the Fugitive Slave Act.
is it true.
Yes, it's true.
Yes, it is true that the Fugitive Slave Act played a significant role in leading the Underground Railroad further north to Canada. To understand why, let's break it down:
The Fugitive Slave Act was a law passed by the United States Congress in 1850 as part of the Compromise of 1850. This law required that all escaped slaves be captured and returned to their owners, even if they had reached free states or territories in the North. It also imposed penalties on individuals who assisted slaves in their escape.
As a result of this law, many abolitionists and those involved in the Underground Railroad felt that the risks in assisting escaped slaves had significantly increased. The Fugitive Slave Act allowed slave catchers to arrest and capture escaped slaves in Northern states, even if those states had outlawed slavery. This created a sense of insecurity among the Underground Railroad network and those supporting it.
To mitigate these risks, freedom seekers and abolitionists began to change their strategies and redirect their efforts toward helping slaves reach safety in Canada. Canada was not subject to the Fugitive Slave Act, so it provided a safer haven where escaped slaves would not be legally forced to return to bondage.
By leading the Underground Railroad further north to Canada, abolitionists aimed to ensure the freedom and safety of escaped slaves. The journey to Canada was longer and more treacherous, but it offered a greater chance of permanent emancipation for those seeking freedom.
In summary, the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 played a pivotal role in pushing the Underground Railroad further north to Canada, where escaped slaves could find relatively safer haven from the reach of slave catchers and the law.