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Sandford, often referred to as the Dred Scott case, was a landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court in 1857. The case involved Dred Scott, an enslaved African American man who had lived in the free state of Illinois and the free territory of Wisconsin before being taken by his owner, John Emerson, to the slave state of Missouri. Scott sued for his freedom, claiming that his residence in free territories had made him a free man. In a 7-2 decision, the Supreme Court ruled against Scott, stating that as an enslaved person, he was not considered a citizen and therefore had no right to sue in federal court. Moreover, the Court declared that the Missouri Compromise, which banned slavery in certain territories, was unconstitutional, as it violated the Fifth Amendment's protection of property rights. The decision had significant implications for the ongoing debate over the expansion of slavery in the United States. It reaffirmed and solidified the institution of slavery, angering abolitionists and sparking widespread controversy. Many viewed the decision as a violation of individual rights and a political attempt to protect the interests of slaveholders. The Dred Scott case is often cited as one of the causes that contributed to the American Civil War, as it further polarized the nation and heightened sectional tensions. Ultimately, the decision was effectively nullified by the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1865, which abolished slavery nationwide. The case remains a landmark in American legal and constitutional history, highlighting the Supreme Court's role in shaping social and political issues. It stands as a stark reminder of the injustices and contradictions that defined the era of slavery in the United States.