Dred Scott v. Sandford
By Brathe and Michaella
All about the Case
Dred Scott was a slave in Missouri. For ten years, he lived in Illinois, which was a free state. After returning to Missouri, Scott sued his owner, believing that his residence in Illinois made him free. Sandford had decided that no African American could be a citizen in the sense of Article III of the Constitution. The case closed with the decision of Scott being property, 7-2 for Sandford.
Conclusion
Dred Scott was a slave. Under Articles 3 and 4, no one but a citizen of the United States could be a citizen of a state, and that only congress could confer national citizenship. Taney reached the conclusion that no person descended from an American slave had ever been a citizen for Article 3 purposes. The court then held the Missouri compromise unconstitutional hoping to end the slavery question once and for all.
Who was involved
Dred Scott- petitioner
John F. A. Sandford- Respondent
Taney Court (1853-57)- Decided the case
The Time Period
Argued: Feb. 11-14th of 1856, Dec. 15-18th, 1856
Decided: Mar. 6, 1857
(No events were going on at this time)
Why was this case important?
It escalated the rising sectionalism between the North and the South. This case helped justify the southerners reasoning behind slavery, and the ruling seemed to agitate the free states of the North. This case was supposed to end the slavery question once and for all, but it seemed to only make matters worse.