In the years leading up to the Civil War, numerous events sparked widespread controversy and severely divided the nation. Dred Scott, an African-American slave whose owner moved him from a slave state to one that banned slavery, where he attempted to sue for his freedom. In 1854, just 6 years before the war began, the Supreme Court, in Dred Scott v. Sandford, issued one of its most controversial rulings to date. Known as the Dred Scott Decision, the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney issued a 7-2 decision, ruling that Africans, whether free or enslaved, were not citizens and that they had no legal standing to sue in federal court. Scott was born into slavery in Virginia. As a young man he was taken to Missouri, where he was later sold to Dr. John Emerson. Military surgeon Dr. John Emerson transferred Scott to a U.S. Army post in the Free State of Illinois. Several years later, Dr. Emerson moved again, but this time to Wisconsin Territory. As part of the massive Louisiana Purchase, the Wisconsin Territory, under the Missouri Compromise, outlawed slavery. While in Wisconsin Territory and later in St. Louis, the Emersons began hiring the Scotts as servants. Under several state and federal laws, this was an illegal act in direct violation of the Missouri Compromise, the Northwest Ordinance, and the Wisconsin Enabling Act. Scott bounced around from several military posts, including one in Louisiana, before ending up in St. Louis, Missouri. After Dr. Emerson's death, the Scott property passed to his wife. Throughout 1846, Scott repeatedly tried to secure freedom for himself and his family. After several failed attempts, he resorted to legal recourse... middle of paper ... er B. Taney sent shockwaves through the nation. Taney believed that this would once and for all settle the issue of slavery and whether or not they were considered humans or property. Politely, this further divided the North and South and many believed it was a court decision to expand slavery into the western territories. In conclusion, the decision made by the United States Supreme Court in the case of Dred Scott v. Sanford. That African-American slaves “had no rights which the white man was bound to respect; and that the Negro could justly and legally be reduced to slavery for his own benefit. It was bought, sold, and dealt with as an ordinary article of merchandise and traffic, whenever profit could be made from it. » This is a serious error made by the Supreme Court and can only add fuel to the flames of the slavery issue..