In 1857, the Supreme Court ruled that Dred Scott was not a citizen and that Congress could not limit slavery in the territories. The ruling quickly exposed deep divisions. Many people in the North and South saw the country very differently, and compromise seemed out of reach.
In the North, the response was strong and angry. Newspapers filled with editorials calling the decision unfair and dangerous. Many Northerners believed it showed that the government was controlled by a “Slave Power.” Abolitionists said the Court had ignored precedent and denied basic rights to African Americans. Ordinary citizens who had not been active in the antislavery movement began to speak out, joining meetings and protests. The decision also divided the Democratic Party, as leaders could not agree on whether to support or oppose the Court’s ruling.
In the South, many newspapers and leaders praised the decision. They said the Court had finally confirmed the rights of those who kept people enslaved and settled the question of slavery in the territories. Some Southerners felt that Northern critics were attacking the Constitution itself. Others believed the ruling proved that slavery was protected by national law and that their way of life was secure.
Across the country, the ruling fed sectionalism. It deepened mistrust between regions and parties. State courts and legislatures in some free states pushed back, while many in slave states celebrated. Public debate widened as famous figures argued their views in speeches and campaigns. On the eve of the Civil War, the Dred Scott decision became a symbol of the nation’s crisis. It did not end the conflict over slavery. Instead, it showed how divided the United States had become and how difficult it would be to find a common path forward.