The Dred Scott v. Sandford hearing was a landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in which the Court held that African Americans, whether a slave or freeman, could not be American citizens and
therefore had no standing to sue in federal court, and that the federal
government had no power to regulate slavery in the federal territories acquired after the U.S. was created.
Dred Scott was an African American slave who tried to sue for his freedom, after he was taken through free states and territories, and was denied. For the 2nd time ever, The Supreme court ruled an act of congress unconstitutional Since congress never had the right to prohibit slavery because it went against the 5th ammendment, where they weren't allowed to take property from the people, the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional.
Constitutioinal Issues: Did a slave by entering a free state automatically become free? Was a slave or a Black person allowed to sue in federal court? Could an item of property (a slave) be taken from the owner without just
compensation? Was the Missouri Compromise a valid and constitutional act of congress?
All of these things finally led to Dred Scott being denied his freedom.
therefore had no standing to sue in federal court, and that the federal
government had no power to regulate slavery in the federal territories acquired after the U.S. was created.
Dred Scott was an African American slave who tried to sue for his freedom, after he was taken through free states and territories, and was denied. For the 2nd time ever, The Supreme court ruled an act of congress unconstitutional Since congress never had the right to prohibit slavery because it went against the 5th ammendment, where they weren't allowed to take property from the people, the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional.
Constitutioinal Issues: Did a slave by entering a free state automatically become free? Was a slave or a Black person allowed to sue in federal court? Could an item of property (a slave) be taken from the owner without just
compensation? Was the Missouri Compromise a valid and constitutional act of congress?
All of these things finally led to Dred Scott being denied his freedom.