The Dred Scott vs. Sandford decision by the Supreme Court of the US. Scott sued for his freedom on the ground that he lived in a free state and a free territory for a prolonged period of time. The main points of the Dred Scott decision were:
- The fact that Dred lived in a free state for a prolonged period of time did not make him free once he returned to a pro-slave state.
- Dred Scott could not be considered a citizen of the US and could not sue the government.
- The Court also decided that the Congress did not have the power to ban slavery in a territory because that decision would be the violation of the 5th Amendment. Which made the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional.