Who is a slave who sued for his freedom and lost before the civil war?

Dred Scott v. Sanford, 60 US 393 (1857)

Answer

Dred Scott sued for his freedom.

The US Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in defendant John Sanford's favor, returning Dred Scott and his family to slavery. Chief Justice Roger B. Taney delivered the Opinion of the Court that held slaves, former slaves and descendants of slaves could never be US citizens.

Answer

That was Dred Scott. He should have claimed his freedom while he was on free soil, but he was brought back into slave country, and tried to claim his freedom when his status was subject to debate. This caused immense trouble - and arguably started the Civil War.

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