The most important issue of the case was Dred Scott's status: was he a slave or was he a free man? Dred Scott had been born into slavery, but after moving with his master to Wisconsin Territory, where slavery was not permitted, he effectively had the status of a free man and was thus able to get married. However, Scott did not petition for his freedom, and remained with his master. As his master moved around a lot from place to place, between slave state and free, Scott found himself in the absurd position of being free in one state, but a slave in another. It was important, then, for Scott to establish his precise legal status once and for all.