What improved law was included in the Compromise of 1850?

The Compromise of 1850 included an improved fugitive slave law, which was a significant aspect of the overarching legislative package aimed at resolving tensions between free and slave states. This law mandated stricter enforcement of the return of escaped slaves, making it easier for slave owners to recapture their property and imposing penalties on those who helped runaway slaves.

The inclusion of the improved fugitive slave law was crucial in appeasing Southern states, as it reinforced their rights to their enslaved individuals who had escaped to the North. The more stringent provisions intensified the existing regional conflicts, as many abolitionists and free states opposed the law vocally, leading to increased tensions between the North and South.

Other options present different legislative measures but do not relate directly to the compromises made in 1850 concerning issues of slavery and state rights. For instance, the Homestead Act was enacted later in 1862 to encourage westward expansion and settlement, while the Land Ordinance of 1785 was about land distribution in the Northwest Territory, and the Free Soil Law refers to a political stance against the expansion of slavery rather than a specific law passed during this time. Thus, focusing on the improved fugitive slave law illustrates the intense struggle over slavery rights and the efforts