Excerpt from Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)
4. A free negro of the African race, whose ancestors were brought to this country and sold as slaves, is not a "citizen" within the meaning of the Constitution of the United States.
5. When the Constitution was adopted, they were not regarded in any of the States as members of the community which constituted the State, and were not numbered among its "people or citizen." Consequently, the special rights and immunities guaranteed to citizens do not apply to them. And not being "citizens" within the meaning of the Constitution, they are not entitled to sue in that character in a court of the United States, and the Circuit Court has not jurisdiction in such a suit.
Use the excerpt to answer the question.
Which of the following BEST summarizes the argument in the excerpt?
(1 point)
• The U.S. Supreme Court has no jurisdiction in the case.
African American descendants of slaves cannot be citizens.
• The U.S. Constitution does not protect slaves.
•Ativan. American descendants of slaves will ways be