Which law mandated that citizens help search for fugitive slaves?

The Fugitive Slave Law was a significant piece of legislation that mandated citizens to assist in the capture and return of runaway slaves to their owners. This law, passed as part of the Compromise of 1850, aimed to address the contentious issue of slavery between northern and southern states. Under this law, it became a legal obligation for ordinary citizens to help federal marshals in the pursuit of escapees, and failure to comply could result in fines or other penalties.

The law not only reinforced the institution of slavery but also heightened tensions between free states and slave states, as it penalized those who harbored or aided fugitive slaves. The impact of the Fugitive Slave Law was significant in the lead-up to the Civil War, fueling abolitionist sentiments and leading to more organized resistance against slavery.

In contrast, the Slave Trade Act primarily regulated the Atlantic slave trade, the Homestead Act focused on land settlement and agriculture, and the Civil Rights Act addressed civil rights issues in a post-Civil War context. Each of these laws served different purposes and did not impose the same obligations on citizens regarding the assistance of fugitive slaves as the Fugitive Slave Law did.