Which of the following pairs of cases limited the rights of African Americans?

The choice that correctly identifies cases that limited the rights of African Americans is Plessy v. Ferguson and Dred Scott v. Sandford.

Plessy v. Ferguson established the legal precedent of "separate but equal," which upheld state laws that enforced racial segregation. This ruling effectively legitimized discriminatory practices and provided legal justification for the continuation of segregation in various public facilities, including schools, transportation, and bathrooms, significantly curtailing the rights and freedoms of African Americans.

Dred Scott v. Sandford is another pivotal case that asserted that African Americans, whether enslaved or free, could not be considered American citizens and thus had no standing to sue in federal court. This decision reinforced the institution of slavery and denied basic rights and liberties to African Americans, further entrenching systemic racism in the United States.

Both of these cases had profound and long-lasting negative impacts on the civil rights of African Americans, as they institutionalized and legitimatized racial discrimination during their respective eras.