What landmark ruling was established in the Dred Scott case?

The Dred Scott case, decided by the Supreme Court in 1857, established that African Americans could not sue in federal court. The ruling concluded that because Scott was of African descent, he was not considered a citizen of the United States and, therefore, lacked the standing to bring a lawsuit. This decision was significant as it reinforced the idea that people of African descent, whether enslaved or free, were not afforded the same rights as white citizens under the Constitution, solidifying the legal foundation for racial discrimination and further exacerbating tensions leading up to the Civil War.

While the other potential answers address important issues surrounding race and citizenship, they do not capture the core ruling of the Dred Scott decision as accurately as this one does.