Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam

What was the main legal outcome of the Dred Scott case?

1. Slaves are considered citizens

2. Slaves are property

3. Slaves can sue for their freedom

4. Slaves are granted human rights

The correct answer is: Slaves are property

The Dred Scott case, formally known as Dred Scott v. Sandford, was a landmark Supreme Court decision in 1857 that had significant implications for the status of enslaved people in the United States. The Supreme Court ruled that Dred Scott, an enslaved man who had been taken into free territories by his owner, was not a citizen and therefore had no right to sue for his freedom. This ruling established that slaves were considered property rather than people with legal rights. The Court's decision effectively reinforced the institution of slavery and nullified the legal standing of free African Americans, as it stated that they were also not citizens. The outcome of the case intensified national tensions over slavery, contributing to the events leading up to the Civil War. Understanding this legal framework helps clarify the broader context of the struggle for civil rights and the concept of personhood for African Americans in U.S. history.