Why did the dred scott v. Sandford decision anger northerners
The Dred Scott v. Sandford decision angered northerners because it ruled that African Americans, whether slave or free, could not be considered citizens of the United States and therefore could not sue in federal court. The decision also said that the federal government could not regulate slavery in the territories, a position favored by Southern slaveholders. This decision was seen as a blow to the anti-slavery movement and helped spur the start of the American Civil War.
The Dred Scott v. Sandford decision of 1857, made by the Supreme Court of the United States, sparked significant anger among northerners for several reasons:
1. Expansion of Slavery: The decision stated that enslaved individuals, even if they lived in free states or territories, were not entitled to their freedom. This ruling effectively expanded slavery into areas previously without it, as it undermined the ability of states to prohibit slavery and threatened the principle of free territories.
2. Denial of Citizenship: The Court ruled that enslaved individuals and their descendants were not considered citizens and therefore could not sue for their freedom in federal courts. This decision not only denied their rights but also raised concerns about the larger implications for free African Americans' status and rights within the country.
3. Constitutionality: Chief Justice Roger B. Taney's opinion asserted that the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which limited slavery in certain territories, was unconstitutional. Many northerners saw this as an overreach by the Court, as it invalidated a longstanding compromise that was seen as a crucial bulwark against the expansion of slavery.
4. Racial Equality: The decision reinforced the prevailing view of racial inequality, stating that African Americans, whether enslaved or free, had no rights that white Americans were bound to respect. This endorsement of racial discrimination and the denial of basic human rights angered those who rejected such notions.
Overall, the Dred Scott decision angered northerners because it expanded slavery, denied rights to enslaved individuals, invalidated a compromise, and reinforced racial inequality, all of which stood contrary to the growing abolitionist sentiment in the North. It further fuelled the sectional tensions between the North and the South, ultimately leading up to the American Civil War.