What did the Supreme Court rule in the case of Dred Scott v. Sandford?

In the case of Dred Scott v. Sandford, the Supreme Court ruled that slaves were considered property. This landmark decision, delivered in 1857, established that individuals of African descent, whether enslaved or free, could not be American citizens and therefore had no right to sue in federal court. The ruling effectively denied Dred Scott's plea for freedom based on his residence in a free state and territory, reinforcing the notion that slaves were commodities rather than individuals with rights.

This ruling had far-reaching implications, as it invalidated any legislative efforts to limit the expansion of slavery into new territories and heightened tensions between northern and southern states, ultimately contributing to the onset of the Civil War. The recognition of slaves as property under the law was a significant element of the Court's rationale, as it was tied to the protection of slaveholders' rights in the context of the Constitution, which included guarantees for property rights.