DRED SCOTT CASE QUOTES So far inferior that

DRED SCOTT CASE

QUOTES So far inferior, that they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect” Roger Taney �“‘A house divided against itself cannot stand. ’ Abe Lincoln �“

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS �Why was the Dred Scott case so important? �How did the case increase sectionalism?

TOPICS �Background �Case �Decision

BACKGROUND �Missouri Compromise �Compromise of 1850 �Fugitive Slave Act

BACKGROUND CONT. �Dred Scott born around 1800 �Bought by army surgeon Dr. John Emerson in 1832 �Went with Emerson to Illinois in 1836 �Later moved to Wisconsin Territory

BACKGROUND CONT. �Moved to Missouri �Dr. Emerson died in 1843 �Scott tried to buy his freedom from Mrs. Emerson but was refused st �Scott lost the 1 court case

BACKGROUND CONT. �Scott won the retrial in 1850 �Missouri Supreme Court overturned the case in 1852 � 1854: U. S. Circuit Court agreed with state court

TOPICS �Background �Case �Decision

CASE � Went to Supreme Court in 1856 � 7 justices appointed by pro-slavery presidents from south � 5 came from slave-holding families

CASE CONT. � 3 issues �Was Scott a citizen? �Was he free? �Can Congress prohibit slavery?

TOPICS �Background �Case �Decision

DECISION � African Americans are not citizens under the Constitution, Scott can’t sue in federal court � Scott not free because he lived in a slave state � Missouri Compromise unconstitutional: congress can’t ban slavery

DECISION CONT. �Southerners happy with decision �Northerners, particularly Republicans, upset �Lincoln gave his house divided speech after the ruling

EXIT SLIP �Why was the Dred Scott case so important? �How did the case increase sectionalism?