The most alarming aspect of the Compromise of 1850 to northerners was
A) the continuation of slavery in the District of Columbia.
B) the possible expansion of slavery in the New Mexico and Utah territories under "popular sovereignty."
C) the new Fugitive Slave Law.
D) the payment of $10 million to slaveholding Texas.
E) continuation of the interstate slave trade.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The new Fugitive Slave Law was the most alarming aspect of the Compromise of 1850 to northerners because it required citizens to assist in the capture and return of runaway slaves, even if they personally opposed slavery. This law also denied alleged fugitives the right to a trial by jury or the opportunity to testify on their own behalf, leading to accusations of injustice and brutality. Many northerners saw this as a violation of their rights and a clear example of the federal government defending slavery at their expense.

The Most Alarming Aspect of the Compromise of 1850 to Northerners