Supreme Court Justice Roger B. Taney grew up as

A. the son of a fiery abolitionist.

B. a poor Southerner.

C. the son of a slaveholding family.

D. a wealthy Northerner.

A. the son of a fiery abolitionist

The correct answer is C. Supreme Court Justice Roger B. Taney grew up as the son of a slaveholding family.

Explanation:

Taney was born into a family of wealthy slave owners who grew tobacco. In his youth he was a member of the Federalist Party. He later became a Democrat and served between 1831 and 1833 as United States Attorney General under President Andrew Jackson. He was also Secretary of the Treasury between 1833 and 1834.

Taney was the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court for 36 years. He took office on March 28, 1838, and remained in office until his death at the age of 87 on October 12, 1864, the same day his own state of Maryland banned slavery.