Problem
Discussion Question #1: Explain the controversy surrounding the Fugitive Slave Act. What happened as a result of this legislation?
Discussion Question #2: Was popular sovereignty a fair way of resolving the territorial slavery issue or an act of legislative cowardice?
PLEASE EXPLAIN WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH MY CLASSMATE RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTION AND WHY? (A MININUM OF 125 WORDS)
CLASSMATE'S POST
1: The Fugitive Slave Act stated that any runaway slave that was caught would be returned to their rightful owner, even if the slave was to flee to any other states that was against slavery. Because of this in 1850 the Compromise of 1850 would give any future territories the right of voting for being in agreement or against slavery. The states that were already pro slavery were already grandfathered in.
2: I believe that popular sovereignty was an act of legislative cowardice. Reason being, leaving the issue of slavery into the people's hands was bound to start war and grudges between states and people. Not every person agreed to slavery and if those people did not they were treated as outsiders. It was an even bigger opportunity for people to discriminate and pass judgment on each other.