In what year did the Dred Scott v. Sanford case occur, which ruled against the citizenship of blacks?

The Dred Scott v. Sanford case was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1857. This landmark decision held that African Americans, whether enslaved or free, could not be American citizens and therefore had no right to sue in federal court. The ruling was pivotal as it further entrenched the legality of slavery in the United States and deepened the sectional divide between the North and South.

At the time, the court's decision also invalidated the Missouri Compromise, which had limited the spread of slavery in certain territories. This ruling intensified national debates over slavery and contributed to the conditions leading to the Civil War. Thus, the year 1857 is crucial in U.S. history, marking a significant moment in the trajectory of civil rights and the legal status of African Americans.