Scott v. Sanford (case name)

Scott v. Sanford, decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1857, involved Dred Scott, a enslaved man who sued for his freedom after living in free states. The Court ruled against him, stating that African Americans could not be considered U.S. citizens and had no right to sue in federal court. Additionally, the Court declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, which had attempted to limit the spread of slavery in the territories. This decision escalated tensions over slavery in America, contributing to the Civil War and undermining the legal basis for slavery's abolition.