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Prior to the Civil War
States and national citizenship were the subjects of considerable controversy. -
Flashpoint
The controversy over citizenship was the Supreme Court’s decision in 1857 in Dred Scott v. Sandford. -
Dred Scott
He was a slave and sued the executor of his former master’s estate under the state-citizenship diversity jurisdiction of the federal courts. -
The republican party
They strongly opposed Dred Scott, in which the Chief Justice also stated that Congress could not bar slavery from the federal territories. -
Abraham Lincoln
The Republican Party won control of the White House in the election of 1860. -
End of Civil War
The Republican Party was in control of the 39th Congress. -
One view
The national citizenship was dependent on many things; such as state citizenship, so that those who were state citizens under state law, and only those people, were citizens of the US.