What happened during the Dred Scott Court Case
The Dred Scott court case, also known as Dred Scott v. Sandford, was a landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court in 1857. Here is what happened during the case:
1. Background: Dred Scott was an enslaved African American who had been taken by his owner, an army surgeon, to live in free states and territories. He argued that since he had lived in these areas where slavery was prohibited, he should be considered a free man.
2. Lawsuit: In 1846, Scott filed a lawsuit against his owner's widow, claiming that he and his family should be set free on the grounds of their residence in free territories. His case was heard in the Missouri state court system.
3. Trial and Appeal: Initially, Scott won his case in the Missouri Circuit Court, as the court ruled in favor of his freedom. However, the decision was later reversed by the Missouri Supreme Court, which held that simply residing in a free territory did not automatically grant freedom to enslaved individuals.
4. Supreme Court: The case made its way to the United States Supreme Court in 1857. At the time, the Court was dominated by pro-slavery justices.
5. Chief Justice Roger B. Taney: Chief Justice Taney delivered the majority opinion of the Supreme Court in the Dred Scott case. He wrote that enslaved individuals were not citizens of the United States and therefore had no standing to file a lawsuit. Additionally, he ruled that Congress did not have the power to outlaw slavery in the territories.
6. Impact: The decision by the Supreme Court was widely criticized. It further polarized the nation between pro-slavery and abolitionist factions. Many anti-slavery advocates viewed the ruling as a setback for the abolitionist cause and an affirmation of the rights of slaveholders.
7. Contributions to the Civil War: The Dred Scott decision contributed to the tensions that eventually led to the Civil War. It undermined the idea of popular sovereignty, which allowed territories to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery. The decision also solidified the Southern states' support for slavery, as they felt their institution was protected by the highest court in the land.
Overall, the Dred Scott case was a significant moment in American history that further divided the country over the issue of slavery and played a role in the road to the Civil War.