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Chief Justice:
Roger B. Taney
Associate Justices:

John McLean

James M. Wayne

John  Catron

Peter V. Daniel

Samuel Nelson

Robert C. Grier

Benjamin R. Curtis

John A. Campbell

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Dred Scott was an African American slave in Missouri.

From 1833 to 1843, he lived in Illinois and the Louisiana Territory (free land).

After returning to Missouri, he filed suit in Missouri court for his freedom.

He argued that he should be freed because he now lived in a free state.

After losing his case, he filed a new suit in federal court.

However, Scott's master maintained that no “negro” or descendant of slaves could be a citizen in the sense of Article III of the Constitution.

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The lower court ruled that Dred Scott did not earn his freedom because he is not a citizen of the United States, meaning he cannot argue his case in the court of law.

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The Scotts presented their case to the Supreme Court because they believed Dred Scott should obtain his freedom since he is a resident of a free state. The counter argument was a Negro was not a citizen of the United States, therefore does not have the right to bring to suit to the court.

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Question:
Was Dred Scott free or slave?
Answer:
Held portions of the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional in violation of the Fifth Amendment, treating Scott as property, not as a person.
7–2 DECISION FOR SANFORD
MAJORITY OPINION BY ROGER B. TANEY

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In dissent, Benjamin Robbins Curtis criticized Taney for addressing the claim’s substance after finding the Court lacked jurisdiction. He pointed out that invalidating the Missouri Compromise was not necessary to resolve the case, and cast doubt on Taney’s position that the Founders categorically opposed anti-slavery laws.

John McLean echoed Curtis, finding the majority improperly reviewed the claim’s substance when its holding should have been limited to procedure. He also argued that men of African descent could be citizens because they already had the right to vote in five states.

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The court held that the Missouri Compromise violated the Constitution and therefore was invalid. This is significant because it ended the Missouri Compromise, which ultimately paved the way to the Civil War.
The court's decision proved that there wasn't secure freedom anywhere because Scott remained a slave while living in a free state.

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The majority opinion authored by Roger B. Taney
The majority held that “a negro, whose ancestors were imported into the United States, and sold as slaves,” whether enslaved or free, could not be an American citizen and therefore did not have standing to sue in federal court.

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This case is an example of Judicial Activism because it set the stage for fighting to end slavery. This case had a huge impact on African Americans and free states versus slave states. The decision led to the Civil War and is one of the most famous Supreme Court cases in history.