The Fugitive Slave Law

In its early years as a nation, the United States gradually became divided into two main regions, the North and South. These regions were growing increasingly more different in terms of their economic systems and ways of life. By the 1830s, the North was becoming more urban and industrial, employing free labor. The South was evolving into a more agrarian, or agricultural, culture that depended upon slave labor. The two regions shared less and less, and they began to disagree over the issue of slavery.

Following the Mexican War (1846-48), America grew by one-fifth through westward expansion. Congress was forced to confront the issue of slavery as it determined whether the newly acquired areas would be free states or slave states. Out of Congress's deliberations came the Compromise of 1850, which included five provisions concerning slavery, one of which was a more severe Fugitive Slave...