[ Dred Scott ]
The Dred Scott v. Sanford Supreme Court Case of 1857 was among the most controversial Supreme Court cases, declaring an act of Congress unconstitutional for the second time and rewriting the definition of a slave. The Court ruled that those born into slavery became slaves and thus were unable to ever become citizens and were unable to sue in court; thus, even though Scott had fled to the free state of Illinois, he had to be returned to his owner. The Court also ruled that Congress had no right to prohibit slavery in federal territories, also stating that Congress could not deprive the citizens of the territory of "life, liberty, or property without due process of law," according to the Fifth Amendment, referring to slaves as "property." This case established slaves as property, favoring slavery and strengthening and upholding the institution.
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