Florida Civics Literacy Practice Exam

Which Supreme Court ruling held that the authors of the US Constitution did not intend for African-Americans to be US citizens?

1. Brown v. Board of Education

2. Dred v. Sanford

3. Marbury v. Madison

4. Roe v. Wade

The correct answer is: Dred v. Sanford

Dred v. Sanford is the correct answer because it is also known as the Dred Scott decision, which stated that African-Americans, whether free or enslaved, were not citizens of the United States and therefore could not sue in federal court. This ruling further perpetuated the idea of African-Americans as inferior and unequal, and ultimately contributed to the start of the Civil War. Option A, Brown v. Board of Education, is incorrect because this ruling declared segregation in public schools as unconstitutional, not citizenship. Option C, Marbury v. Madison, is incorrect because this ruling established the principle of judicial review, which allowed the Supreme Court to declare acts of Congress as unconstitutional. Option D, Roe v. Wade, is incorrect because this ruling legalized abortion in the United States; it has nothing to do with citizenship.