What is it?...
March of 1875, the Dred Scott decision enter the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Roger Taney. Dred Scott was a slave that lived with his master in many areas, including Illinois, Wisconsin, and Missouri. Since Dred Scott lived in free states, he sued for his freedom. The outcome of the case was 7-2, Scott losing. The decision stated that Dred Scott and all slaves were not US citizens and so not have the right to sue. During the decision, the Court also stated that the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional. The Court went beyond and stated a legislature/Congress cannot outlaw slavery in the territories creating lots of arguments within the Union. From the decision, one could see that the Supreme Court was in favor of the South, along with president and the Constitution. The North seemed only to have Congress. The Supreme Court officially interprets the constitution pulling things like the 5th amendment, Congress cannot take away property, or slavery, and slavery was in the constitution from the Three-Fifths Compromise. Even with a counter argument of slavery not being stated in the constitution can be argued in the 10th Amendment, saying that anything not stated in the Constitution is left up to the states of the union. The South would vote for slavery so either way, the North lost. The decision was a huge victory for the South and deepened tensions between the North and the South.
Key Figures...
Judge Taney was a significant figure during the Dred Scott case. From his ruling, Taney though he settled the arousing issue of slavery within the United States, doing the exact opposite. It instead created an even more extreme debate across the country. Dred Scott is another key figure when it comes to the case. In his unsuccessful attempt in suing for freedom, effects involving the spread of slavery were again put into play increasing tensions in the nation, splitting it down the middle even more than it had been before.
Discussion of its place in history...
The Dred Scott case was significant during its time in history. From this, the Supreme Court pretty much ruled slaves can be taken within any state in the Union. This proved that slavery was indeed, expanding throughout the Union and not dying out in the nation. The decision is also credited for starting Lincoln's political career and allowing his role in the presidential elections, which led to the eventual seceding of the Southern part of the Union.
Impact in creating Civil War...
From the decision, many Northerners became outraged. The North saw this action as an offense to the concept of liberty which the nation was supported by, and viewed the horrors of Southern slave wins over the Northern free ones. The decision and rulings of Congress further deepened the gash splitting the North and South which would eventually become a split in the nation. The change in the policies regarding slavery also altered the national political landscape of the nation.
March of 1875, the Dred Scott decision enter the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Roger Taney. Dred Scott was a slave that lived with his master in many areas, including Illinois, Wisconsin, and Missouri. Since Dred Scott lived in free states, he sued for his freedom. The outcome of the case was 7-2, Scott losing. The decision stated that Dred Scott and all slaves were not US citizens and so not have the right to sue. During the decision, the Court also stated that the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional. The Court went beyond and stated a legislature/Congress cannot outlaw slavery in the territories creating lots of arguments within the Union. From the decision, one could see that the Supreme Court was in favor of the South, along with president and the Constitution. The North seemed only to have Congress. The Supreme Court officially interprets the constitution pulling things like the 5th amendment, Congress cannot take away property, or slavery, and slavery was in the constitution from the Three-Fifths Compromise. Even with a counter argument of slavery not being stated in the constitution can be argued in the 10th Amendment, saying that anything not stated in the Constitution is left up to the states of the union. The South would vote for slavery so either way, the North lost. The decision was a huge victory for the South and deepened tensions between the North and the South.
Key Figures...
Judge Taney was a significant figure during the Dred Scott case. From his ruling, Taney though he settled the arousing issue of slavery within the United States, doing the exact opposite. It instead created an even more extreme debate across the country. Dred Scott is another key figure when it comes to the case. In his unsuccessful attempt in suing for freedom, effects involving the spread of slavery were again put into play increasing tensions in the nation, splitting it down the middle even more than it had been before.
Discussion of its place in history...
The Dred Scott case was significant during its time in history. From this, the Supreme Court pretty much ruled slaves can be taken within any state in the Union. This proved that slavery was indeed, expanding throughout the Union and not dying out in the nation. The decision is also credited for starting Lincoln's political career and allowing his role in the presidential elections, which led to the eventual seceding of the Southern part of the Union.
Impact in creating Civil War...
From the decision, many Northerners became outraged. The North saw this action as an offense to the concept of liberty which the nation was supported by, and viewed the horrors of Southern slave wins over the Northern free ones. The decision and rulings of Congress further deepened the gash splitting the North and South which would eventually become a split in the nation. The change in the policies regarding slavery also altered the national political landscape of the nation.