Why did the Dred Scott v. Sandford decision anger Northerners?

Why did the Dred Scott v. Sandford decision anger Northerners?<i class="icon fa fa-exclamation-circle text-danger fa-fw " title="Required field" role="img" aria-label="Required field">

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It made slavery legal in the territories.

It sought to continue the series of compromises on slavery.

It allowed for expansion of slavery into the North.


1 answer

The Dred Scott v. Sandford decision angered Northerners primarily because it made slavery legal in the territories. The Supreme Court ruled that Congress did not have the authority to prohibit slavery in the territories, which effectively invalidated the Missouri Compromise and allowed for the potential expansion of slavery into areas that had previously been free. This decision was seen as a significant setback in the fight against the spread of slavery and heightened tensions between the North and South. Northerners were concerned that the ruling undermined efforts to restrict slavery and threatened the future of free states and the balance of power in the Union.