Dred Scott, who was born a slave in Missouri, traveled with his master to the free territory of Illinois. As a result, Scott later sued his master for freedom, which the lower courts usually granted.

The plaintiff [Dred Scott]... was, with his wife and children ... and consequently his suit against Sandford was not a suit between citizens of different States, and the court had no authority ...

The group then cites six cases including Dred Scott v Sandford. The 1857 ruling came a few years before the 1861 outbreak of ...