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• Dred Scott Decision
  Dred Scott Decision

  noun

  ScottScott, Dred2
• Dred Scott decision
  Dred Scott decision

  A controversial ruling made by the Supreme Court in 1857, shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War. Dred Scott, a slave, sought to be declared a free man on the basis that he had lived for a time in a “free” territory with his master. The Court decided that, under the Constitution, Scott was his master's property and was not a citizen of the United States. The Court also declared that the Missouri Compromise, which prohibited slavery in certain areas, unconstitutionally deprived people of property — their slaves. The Dred Scott decision was a serious blow to abolitionists (see abolitionism).

Dred Scott Decision

American  

[dred] / ˌdrɛd ˈskɒt dɪˈsɪʒ ən /

noun

1. ScottScott, Dred2

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Dred Scott decision Cultural  

1. A controversial ruling made by the Supreme Court in 1857, shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War. Dred Scott, a slave, sought to be declared a free man on the basis that he had lived for a time in a “free” territory with his master. The Court decided that, under the Constitution, Scott was his master's property and was not a citizen of the United States. The Court also declared that the Missouri Compromise, which prohibited slavery in certain areas, unconstitutionally deprived people of property — their slaves. The Dred Scott decision was a serious blow to abolitionists (see abolitionism).

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Example Sentences

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Dred Scott Decision Dred Scott decision

Douglas, Stephen A., Senator: Lincoln's opposition to, xvi; attitude of, on the Dred Scott Decision, opposed by Lincoln, 42.

From The Poets' Lincoln Tributes in Verse to the Martyred President by Oldroyd, Osborn H. (Osborn Hamiline)

Dred Scott Decision, 197-200; Lincoln's opposition to, 198-199; weakened respect for Supreme Court, 198.

From Lincoln, the Politician by Levy, T. Aaron

By the irony of fate it was Chief Justice Taney of the Dred Scott Decision who inaugurated Lincoln into office, that Lincoln might later make Taney's decision forever null and void.

From The Battle of Principles A Study of the Heroism and Eloquence of the Anti-Slavery Conflict by Hillis, Newell Dwight

Senator Baker of Oregon—one of his old Springfield friends—formally presented him, and after he had read his address, the aged Chief Justice Taney, who had written the Dred Scott Decision, administered the oath of office.

From Life of Abraham Lincoln Little Blue Book Ten Cent Pocket Series No. 324 by Haldeman-Julius, E. (Emanuel)

I heard of the Dred Scott Decision, and thought J.P.

From Vandemark's Folly by Quick, Herbert

He was speaking of the Dred Scott decision, but he understood, as did the Founders, that such people can emerge in every generation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026

The amendment formally overturned the Dred Scott decision in which the court had said that free Black people were not citizens.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 5, 2025

The most sweeping of the Reconstruction Amendments, the 14th Amendment overturned the Dred Scott decision, which held that Black Americans weren’t entitled to citizenship at birth.

From Salon ● Mar. 14, 2025

Supreme Court’s infamous 1857 Dred Scott decision that declared African Americans could not be citizens.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 4, 2024

The Dred Scott decision was bound to produce a split in the Democratic Party and the moment that occurred the success of the Republican Party was assured.

From A History of the Republican Party by Platt, George Washington