Roger B. Taney

Roger B. Taney (1777-1864) was the fifth Chief Justice of the United States, serving from 1836 until his death. He is best known for delivering the majority opinion in the Dred Scott v. Sandford case in 1857, where the Supreme Court ruled that African Americans could not be American citizens and that Congress lacked the power to regulate slavery in the territories. This decision deepened national divisions and contributed to the tensions leading up to the Civil War. Taney's legacy is controversial, reflecting issues of race, justice, and the limits of judicial power.