mar 6, 1857 - Dred Scott v. Sandford
Description:
The supreme court declared that slaves were not citizens of the United States and could not sue in Federal courts when Dred Scott attempted to sue for his freedom. The Dred Scott Decision threatened to entirely recast the political landscape that had thus far managed to prevent civil war. The classification of slaves as mere property made the federal government’s authority to regulate the institution much more ambiguous.Added to timeline:
Date:
mar 6, 1857
Now
~ 168 years ago