What outcome resulted from the rising tensions following the Dred Scott decision?

The rising tensions following the Dred Scott decision, particularly the Supreme Court's ruling that African Americans could not be considered citizens and that Congress had no authority to regulate slavery in the territories, exacerbated sectional divides in the United States. This decision galvanized anti-slavery sentiments in the North and intensified pro-slavery positions in the South.

As a direct consequence, the decision ultimately contributed to the political climate that led to the secession of several Southern states after the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Southern states viewed Lincoln's victory as a direct threat to the institution of slavery, prompting them to declare their secession from the Union and form the Confederate States of America. This marked a significant escalation in tensions that ultimately led to the Civil War.

The other choices, while related to the general context of the period, do not capture the specific and direct outcome of the Dred Scott decision as accurately as the secession of Southern states. For instance, the idea that the North and South reached a peaceful compromise contradicts the escalating tensions of the time. Similarly, while support for the Underground Railroad did increase in the North, it was not a direct outcome of the Dred Scott decision. Lastly, the North did not adopt slavery policies as a result