What was the main consequence of the Dred Scott decision regarding the rights of slaves?

The main consequence of the Dred Scott decision was that enslaved individuals were deemed unable to sue in federal court. This landmark case, decided by the Supreme Court in 1857, established that African Americans, whether enslaved or free, were not considered citizens of the United States. Therefore, they had no standing to bring a case in federal court.

This ruling effectively denied enslaved people any legal recourse against their status or treatment, reinforcing the institution of slavery and exacerbating tensions between free and slave states in the lead-up to the Civil War. The decision had significant implications for the rights and status of African Americans in the legal system, as it confirmed their exclusion from legal protections afforded to citizens. This was a critical moment in American history that influenced public opinion and the political landscape, ultimately leading to the Civil War and the subsequent abolition of slavery with the 13th Amendment.