Final answer:
The Dred Scott v. Sandford case ruled that slaves were property, not citizens, and that they had no protections under the federal constitution. It also declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, exacerbating tensions between the North and South. The correct option is B.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Dred Scott Case Decision
The Dred Scott Case, officially known as Dred Scott v. Sandford, was a landmark Supreme Court decision in 1857. The court, led by Chief Justice Roger Taney, ruled that Dred Scott, an enslaved African American who had resided in free states, was not entitled to his freedom.
The ruling stated that Black people, whether free or enslaved, could not be considered citizens of the United States. Furthermore, the Supreme Court declared that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional as it infringed upon the rights of slave owners, and Congress had no authority to prohibit slavery in the territories.
The correct answer to the question is B) The case ruled that slaves were considered property, not citizens. The Dred Scott decision had sweeping implications, essentially stating that slaves or people of African descent had no rights or protections under the federal constitution and could not sue in federal court, as they were not considered citizens.
Additionally, it heightened tensions leading up to the American Civil War by invalidating laws that sought to limit the spread of slavery into the new western territories, fueling sectional conflict between the North and the South. The correct option is B.