What was the primary issue in the Dred Scott v. Sandford case?

The primary issue in the Dred Scott v. Sandford case centered on the status of enslaved individuals and the legality of slavery in the territories. Specifically, the case arose when Dred Scott, an enslaved African American man, sued for his freedom on the grounds that he had lived in free states and territories, which he argued should have granted him emancipation.

The Supreme Court's ruling, delivered in 1857, concluded that Scott was not a citizen and therefore could not bring a case in federal court. More significantly, the court declared that Congress had no authority to prohibit slavery in the federal territories, effectively invalidating the Missouri Compromise that had sought to limit the expansion of slavery. This ruling had profound implications, deepening the national divide over the issue of slavery and contributing to the events that led to the Civil War.

Understanding this case sheds light on the legal and social dynamics of slavery in the United States and highlights the significant role the Supreme Court plays in interpreting the Constitution and shaping civil rights.