Actions taken by courts and Congress to resolve issues related to slavery in the 1850s

What actions were taken by the courts and Congress in the 1850s to resolve issues related to slavery?

How did the Dred Scott decision and the Compromise of 1850 impact the tensions between the North and the South?

Actions taken by courts and Congress in the 1850s

In the 1850s, both the courts and Congress took actions to resolve issues related to slavery. The courts made significant rulings, such as the Dred Scott decision in 1857, which stated that enslaved people were property and could not be considered citizens of the United States. This decision further intensified the tensions between the North and the South. Congress also played a role in attempting to address the issue of slavery through legislation. One example is the Compromise of 1850, which included provisions such as the Fugitive Slave Act. This act required the capture and return of escaped slaves, regardless of whether they were in free states.

Dred Scott decision and Compromise of 1850 impact

The Dred Scott decision and the Compromise of 1850 had significant impacts on the tensions between the North and the South in the 1850s. The Dred Scott decision reinforced the belief that enslaved people were considered property rather than citizens, fueling the abolitionist movement in the North and deepening the divide between the two regions. Additionally, the Fugitive Slave Act included in the Compromise of 1850 heightened tensions by requiring the capture and return of escaped slaves, even in free states, causing outrage among abolitionists and further polarizing the nation.