Question

The _____________ ____________ decision in 1857 centered on a slave who wished to use the federal courts to sue for his freedom, but access to the courts was predicated on citizenship. The U.S. Supreme Court dismissed his case as "all other Blacks, free and enslaved, were not and could never be citizens because they were 'a subordinate and inferior class of beings.'" This is found in our Annual Editions book, 20th edition, in Unit #2.

Answer 1

The Dred Scott Case decision in 1857 centered on a slave who wished to use the federal courts to sue for his freedom, but access to the courts was predicated on citizenship. The U.S. Supreme Court dismissed his case as "all other Blacks, free and enslaved, were not and could never be citizens because they were 'a subordinate and inferior class of beings.

Dred Scott was slave of five years to his master. Thinking that he spent enough time in the free country, he sued his master. However, the U.S Supreme Court then dismissed the case on the basis that blacks could not be citizens of the country.