The Dred Scott Decision (1857)

• What is the Dred Scott decision known for?


   It is one of the most infamous Supreme Court rulings in U.S. history, dealing with slavery.
• Who was Dred Scott?


   A formerly enslaved man who sued for his freedom after living in a free state and territory.
• What was the Supreme Court's ruling in the Dred Scott case?


  The court ruled that Dred Scott remained enslaved and could not be a U.S. citizen.
• What did the Dred Scott decision say about slavery in U.S. territories? 


  The court ruled that the federal government could not regulate slavery in U.S. territories, striking down parts of the Missouri Compromise of 1820.
• Why is the Dred Scott decision considered biased?


   Seven of the justices were appointed by pro-slavery presidents, and five had personal connections to slaveholding families.
• What impact did the Dred Scott decision have on the U.S.?


  It deepened the divide between the North and South and contributed to the rise of the Republican Party and the election of Abraham Lincoln.
• What did Chief Justice Roger B. Taney hope for in the Dred Scott ruling?


  He hoped the decision would resolve the issue of slavery, but it instead increased tension between the North and South.