The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that "the Scotts were slaves." This decision shows that the Scotts A decided to withdraw their case. B did not have a lawyer to defend them. C did not have money to pay the court. c D were not considered citizens. D

## Step 1<br />The problem refers to the Dred Scott v. Sandford case, a landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1857. The case involved Dred Scott, an enslaved African American man, who sued for his freedom on the grounds that he had lived in a free state and a territory where slavery was prohibited.<br />## Step 2<br />The Supreme Court ruled against Scott, stating that he was not a citizen and therefore had no right to sue in federal court. This decision was based on the racial prejudices prevalent at the time, which viewed African Americans as property rather than individuals with rights.<br />## Step 3<br />The ruling also declared that African Americans, whether free or enslaved, could not be American citizens and therefore had no standing to sue in federal court. This decision was a significant setback for the rights of African Americans and was a contributing factor to the tensions leading up to the Civil War.<br />## Step 4<br />The correct answer is D, "were not considered citizens," as this reflects the Supreme Court's ruling in the case.