Page "Dred Scott" Paragraph 16

The Court had ruled that African Americans had no claim to freedom or citizenship.

Since they were not citizens, they did not possess the legal standing to bring suit in a federal court.

As slaves were private property, Congress did not have the power to regulate slavery in the territories and could not revoke a slave owner's rights based on where he lived.

This decision nullified the essence of the Missouri Compromise, which divided territories into jurisdictions either free or slave.

Speaking for the majority, Taney ruled that because Scott was simply considered the private property of his owners, that he was subject to the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, prohibiting the taking of property from its owner " without due process ".

Ultimately, the 14th Amendment to the Constitution settled the issue of Black citizenship via Section 1 of that Amendment: " All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside ..."