Some of the reasons why the North viewed the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 as a bad law include:
- It violated the principle of freedom of movement. The law required all citizens to assist in the capture of escaped slaves, even if they did not want to. This was seen as a violation of the right of individuals to travel freely.
- It was racially discriminatory. The law only applied to escaped slaves, which meant that it discriminated against African Americans.
- It was seen as a threat to Northern states' sovereignty. The law required Northern states to cooperate in the capture of escaped slaves, even if they did not agree with the institution of slavery. This was seen as a violation of states' rights.
As a result of the opposition to the Fugitive Slave Act, many Northern states passed "personal liberty laws" that made it more difficult to capture escaped slaves. These laws ranged from requiring a trial by jury for alleged fugitive slaves to outright refusing to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act.