Question

what effect did the case have on the republican party?

• encouraged the party to make slavery an important issue in the 1860 election
• helped the party to win more support from southerners and enslavers
• made the party want to abandon its antislavery positions

Explanation:

To answer this, we analyze the options in the context of the Dred Scott case and the Republican Party:

• Option 1: The Dred Scott decision (1857) ruled that Congress couldn’t restrict slavery in territories, which went against the Republican Party’s antislavery platform. This forced the party to emphasize the issue of slavery’s expansion, making it a central topic in the 1860 election. This aligns with historical context.
• Option 2: The Republican Party was antislavery, so it did not seek support from Southern enslavers (who defended slavery). Thus, this is incorrect.
• Option 3: The Republican Party was founded on antislavery principles and did not abandon its antislavery stance due to Dred Scott; instead, the case strengthened their resolve to oppose slavery’s spread. Thus, this is incorrect.

Answer:

A. encouraged the party to make slavery an important issue in the 1860 election