Which issue was central to the Dred Scott v. Sandford case?

The Dred Scott v. Sandford case, decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1857, centered on the issues of slavery and citizenship rights. Dred Scott was an enslaved African American man who sued for his freedom on the grounds that he had lived in free states with his owner. The central question was whether Scott was a citizen with the right to sue in federal court and whether his time in free territories entitled him to his freedom.

The Supreme Court's decision rendered a significant ruling: it denied Scott's claim to citizenship, stating that people of African descent could not be considered American citizens, regardless of their status. Furthermore, the court ruled that Congress lacked the authority to prohibit slavery in the territories, effectively nullifying the Missouri Compromise and escalating tensions leading up to the Civil War. This case highlighted the deep divisions in American society regarding slavery and civil rights, making it one of the most controversial rulings in U.S. history.

Understanding this context emphasizes why the issue of slavery and citizenship rights was central to the Dred Scott case, as it addressed not just the personal situation of Scott, but broader questions about the legal status and rights of enslaved people in the United States.