Final answer:
The Dred Scott case fueled tensions between the North and the South, contributing to the onset of the Civil War.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best description of the implications of the Dred Scott case for the United States leading up to the Civil War is that it fueled tensions between the North and the South, contributing to the onset of the Civil War. The Dred Scott decision, which declared that African Americans, whether enslaved or free, could not be citizens of the United States, added to the growing divide between the North and the South over the issue of slavery. The ruling was seen by many in the North as a victory for the pro-slavery forces, further intensifying the conflict between the two regions.
Learn more about Implications of the Dred Scott case