Landmark Supreme Court Cases: Dred Scott v Sanford
9 items
Dred Scott v. Sandford | Homework Help from the Bill of Rights Institute
Video
Video
3 Min
The Dred Scott v. Sandford case of 1857 was brought to the Supreme Court just four years before the start of the Civil War. Dred Scott sued his master for his freedom and Judge Robert Taney ultimately ruled two things. First, African Americans were not citizens and had no right to sue in court. Second, Congress did not have the constitutional authority to ban slavery from the states. This case is considered one of the worst rulings in the history of the Supreme Court.
3 Min
“The Declaration … thus frittered away:” Completing the story of Dred Scott | BRIdge from the Past
Video
Video
5 Min
How can images in a newspaper give a more complete story of behind a landmark Supreme Court case? In this episode of BRIdge from the Past, Mary explores pictures of Dred Scott’s family in Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, v. IV, no. 82, from June 27, 1857. Pictured in the newspaper were Scott’s wife, Harriet, and their children, Eliza and Lizzie. How do these images allow us to understand the historic Dred Scott case on a personal level? What additional questions about the subjects might these images raise?
5 Min
Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)
Lesson - 3 Activities
Lesson
3 Activities
Case background and primary source documents concerning the Supreme Court case of Dred Scott v. Sanford. This case deals with the issues of slavery, states’ rights, and the interpretation of our Founding documents. This lesson focuses on the question of how the two sides in the Dred Scott decision interpreted the same Founding documents and came to such different conclusions.
Dred Scott v. Sandford DBQ
Lesson - 1 Activities
Lesson
1 Activities
90 Min
What attempts were made to resolve the issue of slavery in the U.S. territories?
90 Min
Dred Scott v. Sandford DBQ Primary Sources
Activity
Activity
Five primary sources that explore the background of and the Supreme Court opinions in the Dred Scott decision.
Speech on Dred Scott Decision
Primary Source - 704 Words
Primary Source
704 Words
Abraham Lincoln's speech discussing his disappointment in the Dred Scott ruling. He remains hopeful that the ruling would not be the end of the discussion about slavery.