What was the outcome of the Dred Scott case?

The Dred Scott case, officially known as Dred Scott v. Sandford, was a landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court in 1857. The court ruled that Dred Scott, an enslaved African American man, was not entitled to his freedom despite having lived in free territories. This ruling affirmed the belief that African Americans were not citizens and, therefore, had no standing to sue in federal court.

The decision was pivotal as it declared that the federal government had no power to regulate slavery in the territories, further intensifying the national debate over slavery and contributing to the onset of the Civil War. The court determined that because Scott was enslaved, he was considered property and not a citizen, thus he could not claim rights or freedoms under the Constitution. This ruling had far-reaching implications, reinforcing the institution of slavery and denying basic human rights to enslaved individuals.