How did the Dred Scott decision raise or reduce the tension over the slavery issue?

Answer 1

Douglas argued that each state/territory should have the right to authorize or prohibit slavery. Lincoln argued that there should be no such right - that the US could not continue to exist half slave and half free. This became somewhat academic when the Supreme Court decided in Dred Scott (1857) that the Federal government had no power to regulate slavery in states/territories that were acquired after the creation of the United States.

Answer 2

It raised tensions, because the southerners freaked out about having someone anti-slavery run for senator(Lincoln), and then president(again Lincoln). Lincoln was a powerful speaker, and southerners were concerned that he would persuade more people to join the Union's cause

Answer 3

It raised the tensions.

The verdict of the Supreme Court delighted the South, because it declared that slavery was protected by the Constitution.

It infuriated the Abolitionists for the same reason.

And it exasperated the majority of Northerners who were not overly concerned with the slavery debate, but just wished it was over.

Answer 4

It raised the tension by declaring slavery to be legal in every state of the Union.

The South was jubilant.

Northern Abolitionists - few but influential - were outraged.

Most Northerners just despaired, because they knew it was bringing war closer.