Question

Why did the dred scott v. Sandford decision anger northerners

Answer 1

The Dred Scott v. Sandford decision angered northerners because it ruled that African Americans, whether slave or free, could not be considered citizens of the United States and therefore could not sue in federal court. The decision also said that the federal government could not regulate slavery in the territories, a position favored by Southern slaveholders. This decision was seen as a blow to the anti-slavery movement and helped spur the start of the American Civil War.