Dred Scott was an enslaved American man whose court decision (Dred Scott v. Sanford) helped shape our history.
In 1857, the US Supreme Court ruled an extremely controversial decision that black people, enslaved or free, had no rights under the US Constitution. The Supreme Court also ruled that Congress was not of proper authority to prohibit slavery in particular territories, meaning the entire Missouri Compromise of 1820 was nullified effective immediately.
The Dred Scott decision presented more and more conflict between the north and south regarding the issue of slavery, which eventually resulted in the Civil War being fought. This case also highlighted America’s social injustice and struggles for due process under the law as promised in the Constitution.
Learning about Dred Scott is significant to American history in that it aids our comprehension of the profound effect of slavery on our country’s development and constant strive for social equality. It reminds us all to uphold the principles upon which the Constitution was created, and it helps us understand the strong desire for equality in all American history.