The Dred Scott decision declared which major 19th-century act of Congress unconstitutional?
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Correct answer: The Missouri Compromise
The Court ruled that the Missouri Compromise of 1820 was unconstitutional because Congress lacked the authority to prohibit slavery in the territories. This was only the second time the Supreme Court had exercised the power of judicial review to strike down a federal law.
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More Dred Scott v. Sandford questions
- Which constitutional amendment was used by the Court to argue that Congress could not prohibit slavery in the territories?
- What was the immediate political consequence of the Dred Scott decision for the Democratic Party?
- How did the Republican Party respond to the Dred Scott v. Sandford ruling?
- What was the legal status of the 'Slave Power' conspiracy theory after the Dred Scott ruling?
- Justice Benjamin Curtis's dissent in the case was notable because he pointed out that:
- In the context of the Dred Scott case, what does the term 'obiter dictum' refer to?