In the Dred Scott decision, the Supreme Court also ruled that the federal government could not pass laws that banned slavery in any of the western territories. With this ruling, which of the following laws or compromises would be considered illegal?

Question

A. the Fugitive Slave Act, which forced Northerners to help recapture escaped enslaved people
B. the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the war between the United States and Mexico
C. the Missouri Compromise, which declared any territories above a certain geographic line to be free territories
D. the Three-Fifths Compromise, which gave Southern states more political power because of their enslaved population

Answer 1

The ruling in the Dred Scott decision held that Congress did not have the authority to restrict slavery in the western territories, effectively invalidating the Missouri Compromise, which had prohibited slavery in certain territories north of the latitude 36°30′. Therefore, the correct answer is:

C. the Missouri Compromise, which declared any territories above a certain geographic line to be free territories.