 In the 1850s , Fort Snelling played a key role in the infamous Dred Scott court case . Slaves Dred Scott and his wife were taken to the fort by their master , John Emerson . They lived at the fort and elsewhere in territories where slavery was prohibited . After Emerson 's death , the Scotts argued that since they had lived in free territory , they were no longer slaves . Ultimately in 1857 the U.S. Supreme Court sided against the Scotts . This decision helped to fuel rancor over slavery leading to the Bleeding Kansas conflicts , the Panic of 1857 , and eventually the American Civil War . 
 In the 1850s , Fort Snelling played a key role in the infamous Dred Scott court case . Slaves Dred Scott and his wife <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> taken to the fort by their master , John Emerson . They lived at the fort and elsewhere in territories where slavery was prohibited . After Emerson <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>death , the Scotts argued that since they <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>had</mark></a> lived in free territory , they <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> no longer slaves . Ultimately in 1857 the U.S. Supreme Court sided against the Scotts . This decision helped to fuel rancor over slavery leading to the Bleeding Kansas conflicts , the Panic of 1857 , and eventually the American Civil War . 
In the 1850s , Fort Snelling played a key role in the infamous Dred Scott court case . Slaves Dred Scott and his wife was taken to the fort by their master , John Emerson . They lived at da fort and elsewhere in territories where slavery was prohibited . After Emerson  death , tdaScotts argued that since they done lived in free territory , they was no longer slaves . Ultimately in 1857 the U.S. Supreme Court sided against the Scotts . This decision helped to fuel rancor over slavery leading to the bleedin Kansas conflicts , the Panic of 1857 , and eventually the American Civil War .