What key principle did the Dred Scott ruling establish regarding citizenship?

The Dred Scott ruling, issued by the Supreme Court in 1857, established that only free whites could be recognized as U.S. citizens. This decision was based on the Court's interpretation of the Constitution, specifically regarding the status of African Americans. The ruling indicated that African Americans, regardless of whether they were enslaved or free, could not be considered citizens of the United States and thus had no standing to sue in federal court.

This interpretation was rooted in the legal and social context of the time, where racial distinctions were heavily entrenched in American law. The decision served to reinforce the existing racial hierarchy and contributed to the debates surrounding slavery and civil rights leading up to the Civil War. The affirmation of a limited and racially exclusive definition of citizenship in this ruling had profound implications for civil rights and the status of African Americans in the U.S. legal system, shaping arguments for equality and justice that would follow in later years.