The Dred Scott v. Sandford decision angered Northerners because it upheld the institution of slavery and declared that African Americans, whether enslaved or free, were not considered citizens and therefore had no rights or standing to bring lawsuits in federal courts. This decision was seen as a blow to the abolitionist movement and a reinforcement of the power of slaveholders in the South. It also further divided the country along North-South lines, as Northerners viewed the decision as a violation of basic principles of freedom and equality.
