Dred Scott Decision

The Dred Scott Decision, issued by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1857, was a pivotal ruling regarding slavery and citizenship. Dred Scott, an enslaved man, sued for his freedom after living in free territories. The Court decided that he could not sue because he was not a U.S. citizen, declaring that African Americans, whether free or enslaved, were not entitled to rights under the Constitution. Additionally, the ruling invalidated the Missouri Compromise, which had attempted to limit slavery's expansion. The decision intensified national tensions leading to the Civil War and is often viewed as a significant failure of the Supreme Court.