What was the purpose of the Fugitive Slave Laws enacted in 1793 and 1850?

The Fugitive Slave Laws of 1793 and 1850 were specifically designed to ensure that escaped slaves could be captured and returned to their owners, thereby reinforcing the institution of slavery and maintaining the property rights of slaveholders. These laws required that officials and citizens in free states assist in the recapture of runaway slaves, creating a legal obligation that upheld the interests of Southern slaveholders.

The 1850 law, in particular, was part of a broader compromise meant to soothe tensions between free and slave states. It imposed harsher penalties on those who helped fugitive slaves and made it easier for slaveholders to prove their claims to escaped individuals in a legal setting. This reflected the priority placed on protecting the Southern economy and way of life, which depended heavily on slavery.

Other choices do not align with the primary purpose of these laws, as they do not relate to the goals of reinforcing the status of slavery or addressing the legal aspects of slavery and property rights.