The Dred Scott Decision

The Dred Scott Decision was a landmark Supreme Court case decided in 1857. Dred Scott was an enslaved man who sued for his freedom after living in free territories. The Court ruled that Scott was not a citizen and therefore had no right to sue.

Additionally, the ruling stated that Congress could not prohibit slavery in the territories, which further inflamed tensions between the North and South. The decision highlighted the legal struggles surrounding slavery and underscored the deep divisions within the country.