How did the Dred Scott v. Sandford decision affect the status of African Americans?

The Dred Scott v. Sandford decision, delivered by the Supreme Court in 1857, had profound implications for the legal status of African Americans. The ruling determined that African Americans, whether enslaved or free, could not be considered citizens of the United States. This conclusion was rooted in the Court's interpretation that the founders of the nation did not intend for people of African descent to enjoy citizenship rights.

This decision effectively denied African Americans the legal protections and rights afforded to citizens, reinforcing their status as property rather than individuals with rights. It also undermined the legal standing of free blacks, effectively dismissing their claims to citizenship and equal rights, which further entrenched the institutionalized racism of the time. Consequently, the ruling intensified sectional tensions and contributed to the growing abolitionist movement, setting the stage for further conflicts over slavery in the years leading up to the Civil War.