The Act Prohibiting the Return of Slaves emerged as a pivotal piece of legislation during the Civil War, illustrating the changing attitudes toward slavery in the United States. Following the outbreak of the Civil War, many enslaved individuals sought refuge in Union-held territory, leading to increased pressure for a legal framework that would protect these escapees from being forcibly returned to their enslavers. The Act was passed as part of a broader initiative to undermine the institution of slavery and to ensure that individual rights were upheld, particularly in areas where the Union had taken control. The decision to annul the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 represented a significant departure from federal support for slavery and signaled a shift towards greater recognition of the rights and humanity of enslaved people. As a result of the new law, escaped slaves could no longer be claimed by their owners in Union-controlled areas, which not only offered temporary refuge to thousands but also complicated the dynamics of the Civil War. The Union Army began to employ formerly enslaved individuals as laborers and soldiers, further altering the composition of forces and the nature of the war itself. This culmination of events set the stage for President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation later that year, which would declare the freedom of all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory, signifying a radical transition in the war's aims and the future direction of the nation’s policy regarding slavery.