Dred Scott was an enslaved person who had lived in the free state of Illinois and the free territory of Wisconsin before being taken by his slaveholders to the slave state of Missouri. He sued for his freedom, based on the fact that he had lived in free states where slavery was not allowed.

1. Why did Dred Scott sue for his freedom?

The case made its way to the Supreme Court, which issued its decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford on March 6, 1857. Chief Justice Roger Taney delivered the ruling, stating that slaves were property and ALL Blacks (free and enslaved) were NOT citizens of the United States and they could not sue in federal court. The Court also declared that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional and could not ban slavery in the western territories.

2. What was Chief Justice Roger Taney's ruling (decision) in this case?

• • Who was considered property?

  • What were ALL Blacks not considered in the U.S.?

  • What could Blacks not do in federal court?

  • What did this case decide about the Missouri Compromise?

The South loved this decision as it helped keep slavery alive; the Supreme Court had essentially ruled in favor of continuing and even expanding slavery! Following the ruling, since African Americans were denied citizenship and had no legal rights FREE African Americans faced even more danger of being captured and enslaved in the South. African Americans had NO legal protection! The North however, hated this decision and began speaking out against slavery. Tension increased more and more between the two sides.

3. How did the South feel about this decision?

4. How did the North feel about this decision?

5. How were free African Americans affected by the Dred Scott decision?