The Dred Scott Decision

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

This decision not only denied Dred Scott his freedom but also stated that Congress could not prohibit slavery in the territories. The ruling intensified the national debate over slavery and deepened the divide between the North and South.