The Dred Scott v. Sandford case is an example of which of the following judicial philosophies?
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Correct answer: Judicial Activism
Historians often characterize the Dred Scott decision as a form of judicial activism because the Court went far beyond the immediate legal question (jurisdiction) to make a sweeping political ruling on the constitutionality of federal laws and the nature of citizenship.
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More Dred Scott v. Sandford questions
- On what primary legal basis did Dred Scott argue for his freedom before the Supreme Court?
- What was Chief Justice Roger B. Taney's ruling regarding the citizenship of African Americans?
- The Dred Scott decision declared which major 19th-century act of Congress unconstitutional?
- 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?