The early Republican Party opposed the Dred Scott decision primarily because the ruling undermined the idea of free labor and supported slave labor. The Dred Scott decision, issued by the Supreme Court in 1857, declared that African Americans could not be considered citizens and that Congress did not have the authority to prohibit slavery in the territories. This ruling was seen as a significant victory for pro-slavery factions and was viewed by Republicans as a direct threat to the principle of free labor, which they championed. The Republican Party was founded on the principles of limiting the expansion of slavery and promoting free labor as a more moral and economically viable alternative to slave labor. Thus, the party's opposition was rooted in a commitment to these principles and a belief that the ruling undermined their goals.
Why did the early Republican Party oppose the Dred Scott decision?
The ruling abolished slavery, which the Republican Party supported.
The ruling made it difficult for Republican candidates to run for president.
The ruling undermined the idea of slave labor and supported free labor.
The ruling undermined the idea of free labor and supported slave labor.
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