People wondering what conditions led to civil war in America in the mid-1800's need look no further than the Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis. The times were changing. And people for and against slavery knew it. Encouraged by the success of several "freedom cases" in the country, a slave named Dred Scott sued for his freedom… and lost. Dred and Harriet Scott would eventually gain their freedom. But it would not come from a ruling in an American court.