What was the outcome of the Dred Scott v. Sandford case?

• A. The Supreme Court ruled that African Americans could not be citizens
• B. The Supreme Court ruled that slavery was illegal
• C. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Dred Scott
• D. The Supreme Court ruled that states could decide on slavery

Answer: (A)

The outcome of the Dred Scott v. Sandford case was significant and had lasting implications for African Americans and the legal landscape surrounding slavery. The Supreme Court ruled that African Americans could not be considered citizens under the U.S. Constitution, which meant that they were not entitled to the rights and privileges that citizenship afforded.

This ruling effectively denied Dred Scott, who was an enslaved man that had sued for his freedom, the ability to stand in court as a citizen. The Court's decision emphasized that Black people, whether enslaved or free, were not included in the annual citizenship provisions of the Constitution when it was drafted. The ruling not only impacted Scott’s case but also reinforced the legal framework that supported the institution of slavery and nullified the efforts of abolitionists working toward emancipation.

While the other choices address relevant themes, they do not accurately encapsulate the core outcome of the case. The Supreme Court did not rule that slavery was illegal; in fact, it upheld slavery as a legal institution. The Court also did not rule in favor of Dred Scott, nor did it establish that states could decide on slavery in a way that challenged the federal stance. Instead, the case firmly entrenched the idea that African Americans were outside the protection and