alternatehistory.com

In 1857, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Roger Taney declared that Dred Scott, a former slave whose state of servitude was in question, was still a slave, and had no ability to sue his former master. Instead of dismissing the case, as would be logical, he used it to declare the Missouri compromise as illegal, causing national uproar.

What could be the ramifications had he simply dismissed the case without denouncing the Missouri Compromise? If the American Civil War occurs as scheduled, are there any affects? Does it happen it all (It looks like there would be some sort of secession)?
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