In 1850, the Fugitive Slave Law was passed as part of the Compromise of 1850, dramatically increasing the risks for enslaved people seeking freedom and for those who assisted them. The law mandated that all escaped enslaved people, regardless of where they had sought refuge, be returned to their owners, even if they had reached free states or territories. This law gave federal authorities the power to enforce the return of enslaved individuals and imposed harsh penalties on anyone who aided in their escape, including fines and imprisonment.

The passage of the Fugitive Slave Law sparked widespread outrage and resistance, particularly in Northern states, where many had previously harbored escaped slaves through networks like the Underground Railroad. Abolitionists, outraged by the legal mandate to return people to slavery, ramped up their efforts, and the law led to heightened tensions between free and slave states. It also propelled many African Americans and abolitionists to take greater risks in their fight for freedom, contributing to the rising tensions that would eventually lead to the Civil War. The 1850 Fugitive Slave Law is a stark reminder of the lengths to which the institution of slavery was protected and the personal and collective costs of seeking freedom during this period in American history.