Dred Scott Decision

Definition

The Dred Scott Decision was a landmark Supreme Court ruling made in 1857 that stated African Americans, whether free or enslaved, could not be American citizens and thus had no standing to sue in federal court. This decision not only denied citizenship to all blacks but also declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, which had attempted to limit the spread of slavery into new territories. The ruling intensified the national debate over slavery and was a significant legal foundation supporting the institution of slavery in America.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Dred Scott Decision was delivered by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, who argued that African Americans were not intended to be included in the word 'citizens' as used in the Constitution.
2. The ruling effectively nullified the Missouri Compromise by stating that Congress did not have the authority to prohibit slavery in the territories, paving the way for further expansion of slavery.
3. Dred Scott was an enslaved man who had lived in free territories with his owner; he sued for his freedom based on his residence in those areas.
4. The decision created significant backlash among abolitionists and heightened tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions, contributing to the onset of the Civil War.
5. The Dred Scott Decision has been widely criticized for its moral implications and is often cited as one of the worst Supreme Court decisions in U.S. history.

Review Questions

• How did the Dred Scott Decision affect the legal status of African Americans in relation to citizenship?
  • The Dred Scott Decision had a profound impact on the legal status of African Americans by asserting that they could not be considered American citizens, regardless of their status as free or enslaved. This ruling denied them any legal rights, including the right to sue in federal court. Consequently, it reinforced the idea that black individuals were inferior and contributed to their continued disenfranchisement within the legal system.
• Discuss the implications of the Dred Scott Decision on the Missouri Compromise and its effects on sectional tensions leading up to the Civil War.
  • The Dred Scott Decision invalidated the Missouri Compromise by ruling that Congress lacked the power to prohibit slavery in federal territories. This significantly escalated sectional tensions between Northern free states and Southern slave states. As a result, many abolitionists viewed this decision as a direct attack on their efforts, while Southern states felt emboldened to expand slavery further into new territories, further polarizing the nation.
• Evaluate how the Dred Scott Decision influenced subsequent legislation and constitutional amendments regarding civil rights and liberties in America.
  • The Dred Scott Decision had lasting repercussions on civil rights and liberties in America, leading to significant shifts in public opinion and political action. The outrage it generated among abolitionists contributed to increased activism against slavery, ultimately resulting in the Civil War. In response to this and similar injustices, the 13th Amendment was ratified to abolish slavery, followed by the 14th and 15th Amendments, which aimed to grant citizenship and voting rights regardless of race. This sequence illustrates how such a negative legal precedent eventually spurred transformative changes in American society.

Related terms

Missouri Compromise: A legislative agreement passed in 1820 that attempted to balance the power between slave and free states by admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state.

Fugitive Slave Act: A law passed in 1850 that required citizens to assist in the capture of runaway slaves and imposed penalties on those who aided escaped slaves.

13th Amendment: An amendment to the U.S. Constitution that abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime, ratified in 1865.