Who was the escaped slave recaptured in 1853 in Boston, leading to a defense by an angry mob of northerners?

The correct answer is Anthony Burns, who was an escaped slave captured in Boston in 1854. His recapture led to significant turmoil and protests among anti-slavery advocates, illustrating the tensions between the North and South over the issue of slavery. Burns was arrested under the Fugitive Slave Act, which mandated that escaped slaves be returned to their owners and imposed penalties on those who assisted fugitives.

The response from the community was intense and emotional. Many Northerners viewed the enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act as a moral outrage, and a large mob gathered to prevent Burns' return to slavery, demonstrating the growing resistance to the institution of slavery in the North.

In contrast, Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman were also significant figures in the fight against slavery but were not directly associated with the events surrounding Burns' capture. Frederick Douglass was a prominent abolitionist who advocated for escaped slaves and spoke out against their treatment, but he was not the individual recaptured in this particular incident. The case of Anthony Burns became emblematic of the national conflict over slavery and the violent reactions that could erupt in its defense or opposition.