Question

which of the following best characterizes sumner’s opinion of the dred scott decision?

• he strongly agrees with it.
• he disagrees with it but he respects the court’s opinion.
• he thinks it is one of the worst decisions in history.

based on the reading, to which political party can you infer that sumner belonged to?
democratic
republican
know-nothing
“i speak what cannot be denied when i declare that the opinion of the chief justice in the case of dred scott was more thoroughly abominable than anything of the kind in the history of courts. judicial baseness reached its lowest point on that occasion. you have not forgotten that terrible decision where a most unrighteous judgment was sustained by a falsification of history.”

• charles sumner 1856

Explanation:

First Question (Characterizing Sumner’s opinion on Dred Scott decision)

From the quote, Sumner uses words like "more thoroughly abominable", "judicial baseness", "unrighteous judgment", "falsification of history" to describe the Dred Scott decision, showing he thinks it's one of the worst decisions in history. So the option "He thinks it is one of the worst decisions in history" matches.

Charles Sumner was a prominent member of the Republican Party, known for his anti - slavery stance and work in the party during the pre - Civil War and Civil War era. The Democratic Party at that time had more pro - slavery or slave - holding state support, and "Know - Nothing" was a nativist party not associated with Sumner. So Sumner belonged to the Republican Party.

Answer:

He thinks it is one of the worst decisions in history

Second Question (Political party of Sumner)