The Dred Scott decision finally settled the slavery question.

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The Dred Scott decision in 1857 actually escalated tensions over slavery by declaring that African Americans, whether free or slave, could not be U.S. citizens and therefore had no right to sue in federal court. It also declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, which opened up the possibility of slavery expanding into newly acquired western territories. The decision ultimately contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War.

The Dred Scott Decision Finally Settled the Slavery Question