The Dred Scott decision had a major impact on life in the US because it -?

The Dred Scott decision, delivered by the Supreme Court in 1857, declared that African Americans could not be considered citizens and had no standing to sue in federal court. This ruling reinforced the institution of slavery, invalidated the Missouri Compromise, and heightened tensions between free and slave states, contributing to the sectional conflict that ultimately led to the Civil War. It underscored the legal and social inequalities faced by Black Americans, perpetuating systemic racism for generations. The decision is widely regarded as one of the most infamous in U.S. history, highlighting the deep divisions over slavery.