The supreme court ruling in the case of dred scott v. sandford (1857) held that

"A negro, whose ancestors were imported into [the U. S.], and sold as slaves", whether enslaved or free, could not be an American citizen and therefore had no standing to sue in federal court; and that the federal government had no power to regulate slavery in the federal territories acquired after the creation of the United States."

Dred Scott filed suit to fight for his freedom but lost. The Supreme Court's decision was famed the worst and was denounced by intellectuals. The decision led to strengthened anti-slavery efforts and served as antecedent to Civil War.