What Supreme Court decision divided the nation even more?
a. Fugitive Slave case c. Clay's ruling
b. Dred Scott case d. John Brown case
The Supreme Court decision that divided the nation even more was the Dred Scott case (option b). To understand why this decision was divisive, we need to explore the context and consequences of the case.
In 1857, the Supreme Court heard the case of Dred Scott, an enslaved African American who sued for his freedom. The Court's decision, written by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, had significant implications and exacerbated existing tensions surrounding slavery and states' rights.
The Court ruled that African Americans, whether they were enslaved or free, were not citizens of the United States and therefore lacked the right to sue in federal courts. This decision overturned the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which had prohibited slavery in certain territories. The Court declared that Congress could not prohibit slavery in the territories, thus widening the divide between those advocating for the expansion of slavery and those who sought to limit its reach.
The Dred Scott decision further polarized the nation along sectional lines. It angered abolitionists and reinforced the Southern states' commitment to defend and expand the institution of slavery. The ruling exacerbated tensions that eventually led to the American Civil War, as it removed any legal barriers to the expansion of slavery.
To summarize, the Dred Scott case was a Supreme Court decision that divided the nation even more due to its endorsement of slavery and its impact on the debate over states' rights and the expansion of slavery.