Dred Scott Court Case

Question

Who was involved? Think about the people or groups who were involved and affected by this event.
What happened? Summarize the event!
Where did the event take place?
When did the event take place?
Why is this event important to Georgia’s history?

Answer 1

Dred Scott Court Case

Who was involved? The key individuals involved in the Dred Scott case included:

• Dred Scott: An enslaved African American man who sued for his freedom.
• Harriet Scott: Dred Scott's wife, who was also enslaved and joined him in the lawsuit.
• John F. A. Sanford: The owner of Dred Scott at the time of the case; he was from Missouri.
• The Supreme Court Justices: Including Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, who delivered the majority opinion.
• The abolitionist movement and pro-slavery advocates: Various groups that were affected by the implications of the ruling.

What happened? In 1857, the U.S. Supreme Court rendered a decision in the case of Dred Scott v. Sandford. Dred Scott petitioned for his freedom on the grounds that he had lived in free territories (Illinois and Wisconsin) with his owner. The Supreme Court ruled against Scott, stating that:

1. Scott, as an enslaved individual, was not a citizen and therefore had no right to sue in federal court.
2. The Court declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, stating that Congress had no authority to prohibit slavery in the territories, thereby allowing for the expansion of slavery.

Where did the event take place? The case was heard in the United States Supreme Court, located in Washington, D.C. However, the events leading up to the case took place primarily in Missouri and the free states of Illinois and Wisconsin.

When did the event take place? The Supreme Court's decision was delivered on March 6, 1857.

Why is this event important to Georgia’s history? The Dred Scott decision had profound implications for Georgia, as it fueled tensions around the issue of slavery, contributing to sectional conflicts. It affirmed the rights of slave owners and denied any legal standing to enslaved people or free blacks. The ruling effectively nullified any hope that Congress could restrict the expansion of slavery into the territories, which was a crucial issue for Southern states, including Georgia. The decision intensified the national debate over slavery, leading to increased polarization and ultimately contributing to the onset of the Civil War. In Georgia, it influenced public attitudes towards slavery, sectionalism, and calls for secession, aligning the state more firmly with the Confederacy.