The Dred Scott Decision was a landmark Supreme Court ruling in the United States that had a profound impact on Black history. Dred Scott, a slave, had been taken by his owner to live in free territories and states for several years. He eventually sued for his freedom on the grounds that his residence in free territories made him a free man.

In 1857, the Supreme Court ruled against Dred Scott, stating that as a Black person, he was not considered a citizen of the United States and therefore had no legal standing to sue in federal court. The Court also declared that the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which had prohibited slavery in certain territories, was unconstitutional. This decision effectively denied Black people any rights as citizens and upheld the institution of slavery.

The Dred Scott Decision further fueled tensions between the North and South over the issue of slavery, ultimately contributing to the onset of the Civil War. Despite its devastating impact, the ruling also galvanized the abolitionist movement and helped to spur further activism in the fight against slavery and for civil rights for Black Americans.