Answer:
The Northern states opposed the Fugitive Slave Act primarily due to moral objections to the institution of slavery and concerns about individual rights. Many Northerners viewed slavery as fundamentally unjust and opposed any legislation that supported its continuation. Additionally, there were fears that the Fugitive Slave Act could infringe upon the rights of free African Americans, leading to unjust arrests and kidnappings.
Furthermore, Northern states were home to a significant abolitionist movement that actively campaigned against slavery. Abolitionists saw the Fugitive Slave Act as a setback to their efforts to end slavery and worked to undermine its enforcement. Overall, opposition to the Fugitive Slave Act in the Northern states was grounded in moral principles, concerns about individual rights, and a commitment to the abolitionist cause.
