Dred Scott

 I can explain how the Dred Scott Court decision impacted African Americans during the time before the Civil War.

On your own  1) Write a definition for the word property.  2) List some examples of property.

 Antebellum- time period before the Civil War.  Civil War - a war between citizens of the same country.  Property –  Abolitionist -

 Using your definition of property, decide what you would do in the situation below.  You live in North Carolina where they allow the riding of bikes. You then move with your family to New York State where bike-riding is not allowed. Later, after several years, you move back to North Carolina. Does the bike still belong to you? Why or why not?

 Using your definition of property, and your ideas from the previous bike situation, answer the question below.  Does Congress have the right to say that you cannot ride your bike in North Carolina (a state that allows bike-riding), since it had “lived” in New York (a state that does not allow bike- riding) for so long? Why or why not?

 As you watch the video, answer the following questions:  People who opposed slavery were known as  How many slaveholders served on the supreme court at the time of the Dred Scott case?  What impact did the Dred Scott case have on the United States?

 Dred Scott was the name of an African-American slave. He was taken by his master, an officer in the U.S. Army, from the slave state of Missouri to the free state of Illinois and then to the free territory of Wisconsin. He lived on free soil for a long period of time.  When the Army ordered his master to go back to Missouri, he took Scott with him back to that slave state, where his master died. In 1846, Scott was helped by Abolitionist (anti-slavery) lawyers to sue for his freedom in court, claiming he should be free since he had lived on free soil for a long time.

 Dr. John Emerson was a doctor in the United States army. The army required him to move throughout the United States. He did not decide to move on his own.

Emerson is stationed in Missouri – A Slave State Emerson is transferred to Illinois – A Non-Slave State Emerson is transferred to Wisconsin – A Non- Slave State Emerson is transferred back to Missouri – A Slave State He passes away shortly after.

 Dred Scott  Lived in a non-slave area long enough to be considered a free man.  His owner passed away, therefore he does not have an owner  US Supreme Court  Dred Scott was not a US Citizen because he was a slave  Congress has no right to control a person’s property

 Which side do you think should win?  Think about the arguments.  Think about our activating strategy.

 In March of 1857, Scott lost the decision as seven out of nine Justices on the Supreme Court declared no slave or descendant of a slave could be a U.S. citizen, or ever had been a U.S. citizen. As a non-citizen, the court stated, Scott had no rights and could not sue in a Federal Court and must remain a slave.

 The Supreme Court also ruled that Congress could not stop slavery in the newly emerging territories and declared the Missouri Compromise of 1820 to be unconstitutional. The Missouri Compromise prohibited slavery north of the parallel 36°30´ in the Louisiana Purchase. The Court declared it violated the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution which prohibits Congress from depriving persons of their property without due process of law.

 Write whether you think the Supreme Court made the right decision.  Black circles share with orange circles and orange circles share black circle’s response.

 How might this event have contributed to the start of the Civil War?  Orange circles share response with black circles and black circles share orange circle’s response.

 Read the speech by Frederick Douglass and respond to the questions below:  Why does Douglass say, ―my hopes were never brighter than now ‖ concerning the Dred Scott case?  What were the major Supreme Court decisions in the Scott case according to Douglass?  What are Douglass‘ opinions on the decisions of the court?  Explain three ways Douglass compares the Taney Supreme Court with the ―Supreme Court of the Almighty ‖ ?  Explain how Douglass beautifully compares the self-evident right of liberty stated by the founding fathers of the United States to the treatment of Dred Scott as being against God.  How does Douglass explain that the Scott decision could actually mean the downfall of slavery?

 Why do you believe this particular court case was being closely monitored by a great number of people living in the United States, both in the North and the South?  Orange circles share response with black circles and black circles share orange circle’s response.

 Read the decision by Chief Justice Taney regarding the Dred Scott case.  Outline the arguments used by the Supreme Court to justify its decision.  Think about why the court ruled the way it did.

 How do you believe many Northern abolitionists responded to the case?  How do you believe many Southern slave owners responded to the case?  Discuss as partners and be prepared to share.

 Use the readings of Frederick Douglass and Chief Justice Taney to complete the Alike and Different Graphic Organizer.

 3- Effects of the Dred Scott case.  2- Reasons why Dred Scott was unsuccessful in his attempt to gain his freedom from slavery.  1- Question you could asked the class regarding the Dred Scott case.

 Create a poster showing the ten events as a chain leading to the end of slavery. You can draw in a chain, tag pictures of the events to the chain, and have written summaries in various forms on the events and how the event led to the end of slavery. Examples: John Brown‘s Raid at Harpers Ferry, Lincoln‘s Divisive Election, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, stricter Fugitive Slave Law, etc.