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Dred Scott was born into slavery in Southampton County, Virginia, on the farm of Peter Blow. He spent his early years as an enslaved person in Virginia, where he would later take his original owner's surname and be known as Dred Scott.

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Scott's first trial in 1847 was dismissed on a technicality. In 1850, a St. Louis jury ruled in Scott's favor, declaring him free.

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The Missouri Supreme Court reversed the lower court's decision, stating that Missouri didn't have to recognize the laws of free states. This decision reflected the growing sectional tensions over slavery.

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Chief Justice Roger B. Taney delivered the landmark Supreme Court decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford. The Court ruled that African Americans, whether free or enslaved, were not American citizens and therefore had no standing to sue in federal court. The Court also declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, stating Congress had no power to prohibit slavery in the territories.

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Despite the Supreme Court's devastating decision, Scott and his family were freed when Calvin Chaffee arranged for their manumission. The Blow family, Scott's original owners, helped secure their freedom.

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Dred Scott died from tuberculosis in St. Louis, less than 18 months after gaining his freedom. He was buried in Calvary Cemetery, St. Louis. His grave would later become a historical landmark.

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The Dred Scott decision is an example of judicial activism and its impact on civil rights, serving as a reminder of the importance of citizenship rights and equal protection under the law. The case is frequently cited in contemporary civil rights discussions and Supreme Court decisions regarding citizenship and constitutional rights. From 2020-2025, its legacy is evident in ongoing racial disparities in voting rights, criminal justice, and economic inequality, sparking renewed debates about systemic racism and reparations. The decision’s denial of personhood resonates today as movements like Black Lives Matter challenge policies rooted in historic discrimination, striving for equity and justice.