The Supreme Court rules that Black people are not citizens and that Congress cannot bar slavery from the territories.
At a Glance
- Date
- 6 March 1857
- Location
- Washington, D.C.
- Key people
- Dred Scott, Roger B. Taney
- Category
- Law & Justice
- Source
- Dred Scott v. Sandford, 60 U.S. 393 (1857) · Oyez
What It Meant Then
It denied Black Americans any rights 'which the white man was bound to respect' and inflamed the path to civil war.
What It Means Now
Dred Scott is widely regarded as the worst decision in the Court's history.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “Dred Scott v. Sandford.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/dred-scott-v-sandford/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Dred Scott v. Sandford. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/dred-scott-v-sandford/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “Dred Scott v. Sandford.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/dred-scott-v-sandford/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.