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.

“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 1865

Explanation:

From the quote by Charles Sumner, he describes the Dred Scott decision as "more thoroughly abominable than anything of the kind in the history of courts" and a "most unrighteous judgment" sustained by "falsification of history". This shows he has a very negative view, considering it one of the worst decisions in history. So the option "He thinks it is one of the worst decisions in history" matches his opinion.

Answer:

He thinks it is one of the worst decisions in history.