LEHHS FOCUS: Lawyer Reconstruction to the Rise of Railroads

The Dred Scott Decision

Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857) -Dred Scott was a slave who’s owner brought him from Missouri to Illinois, a free territory -1854: Scott sued the federal court to gain his freedom -The Supreme Court ruled African Americans were not citizens and could not sue in court. -Chief Justice Roger Taney ruled slaves were not citizens and he claimed the government could not end slavery because the government could not take property from citizens -Justices John McLean and Benjamin Curtis strongly dissented and claimed states already recognized freed slaves as citizens -They claimed the clause in the Constitution to “Make all needful Rules and Regulations” to govern the USA gave the federal government the right to free slaves. -This case intensified the slave debate and was used by slave owners to pursue greater control over the lives of their slaves.

A Struggle for Voting Rights

-Prior to the 1820s, there were some requirements for voting such as owning property -This meant mainly white males could vote up to this point in time -After the Civil War, voting was expanded to allow black males to vote through the 15 th Amendment -The South reacted by making Jim Crow Laws that restricted blacks from voting through loop holes -For instance, one loop hole stated you had to read to vote, but the former slaves had no education -Other laws helped poor whites who could not read to vote by stating if your grandfather had voted in past elections, you could as well. -Women would not receive the right to vote until 1920 with the 19 th Amendment

Fighting the Dred Scott Decision

Fighting the Dred Scot Decision -The Dred Scott Decision was a supreme court case that claimed slaves were not citizens and therefore had no constitutional rights. -Many people in congress wanted to fight this wicked system to give the former slaves rights -10 years after the Dred Scott Decision, America was propelled into Civil War in a large part due to slavery. After the war, Congress amended the Constitution -The 13 th Amendment ended slavery -The 14 th Amendment compelled states to recognize former slaves and citizens and give them rights. -The 15 th Amendment banned the denial of voting rights based on ethnicity

Grangers vs. the Railroad

Grangers vs. The Railroad -The Railroads were using land grants by the government to sell to private businesses and make money -They also charged different customers different rates. Farmers fought back and convinced the Congress of Illinois to regulate the railroad and set ticket prices : the Railroads fought back in the supreme court case of Munn v. Illinois. -The railroads argued the state governments could not set their prices. -The Supreme Court upheld the Grangers point of view and stood against the railroads. -The Railroad companies found support when Congress Passed the Interstate Commerce Act that made it illegal for states to regulate railroad prices due to the fact that the federal government should have that priority.

Plessy v. Ferguson

-Prior to this case, Congress tried to give freed slaves rights through the 14 th and 15 th Amendments -Yet, the South tried to find a loophole in the law by giving blacks “separate” access to services. -In 1892, Homer Plessy sat in the Whites only section of a train. Plessy was arrested and claimed his rights were violated. -The Supreme Court ruled “separate but equal” access still ensured rights were protected. -Yet, this really lead to an inferior status for African Americans -This case made precedent in allowing for segregation until the Brown vs. Board Decision that segregation was unconstitutional in 1954.