Explore histories of migration, citizenship and belonging in Germany and the U.S. over the centuries.
1847
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1857
Dred Scott Decision Denies Citizenship to Black Americans
The Dred Scott v. Sandford ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court declared African descendants, whether enslaved or free, as non-citizens unable to sue in federal court. Dred Scott, an enslaved man, sued for his freedom in Missouri, sparking a decade-long legal battle. Despite an initial victory, the Missouri Supreme Court reversed the decision. The U.S. Supreme Court ultimately ruled against Scott, denying him citizenship and the right to sue. Scott was returned to his master's widow but later gained freedom.The infamous Dred Scott decision deepened North-South tensions on the eve of the Civil War.
The Dred Scott decision spurred widespread dissent by anti-slavery activists and ultimately contributed to the start of the American Civil War.
