D3) Dredd Scott Case

Question 1

Who was Dred Scott?

Answer 1

• sl from Missouri
• moved with his owner to free states illinios & wisconsin, got married here, then back to missouri w master (who he got on well with)

Question 2

what happened after dred scott’s master dies?

Answer 2

• 1840s, sued his master’s widow for his freedom for wrongful imprisonment, claiming he should be free as he’d lived on sl land for 4 years
• his wife and kids’ freedom concerned too
• helped by anti-sl lawyers

Question 3

what questions became apparent once the case came to the supreme court?

Answer 3

• a national issue
• after long & drawn-out case
• can a sl sue for his freedom?
• is slavery legal?
• is a sl property?

Question 4

what was the makeup of the supreme court?

Answer 4

• 5 Ss, 4Ns, lead by CHIEF JUSTICE ROGER TANEY- from Maryland, quite moderate, a roman catholic so against sl but wanted it gone gradually

Question 5

what do republicans crit buchanan for after his inaugeration speech?

Answer 5

• dred scott decision made 6th march, inaugeration is 4th march
• reps calimed the whispered convos between taney and buchanan on inaugeration day wre proof that he knew the decision before asking As to accept it

Question 6

what did buchanan say of the case in his inaugeration speech?

Answer 6

• claimed he knew nothing of court’s decision, said he was ready to ‘cheerfully submit’ to its verdict and urged all As to do so too

Question 7

what was the northern reaction to the decision?

Answer 7

• N NPs launched harsh onslaught on SC & some editors talked of defyin the law
• speculation of buchanan- sets off presidency with corruption + bias + S leanings evident- fueled by reps
• further sectional antagonism- seen by some Ns as an attempt to outlaw rep party
• Ns angered- further proof of slave power
• refuse to enforce FSL- increase PLLs, start actively hiding & helping ppl

Question 8

what was the dred scott decision?

Answer 8

• slaves cannot sue the US for their freedom bc they are property
• they are NOT citizens & have no legal right under const
• black ppl, whether sl or free, did not have the same rights as white ppl
• so SC has basically legalised slavery by saying that:
• Congress could not stop a slave owner from moving his slaves to a new territory
• missouri comp & all other comps (1850, pop sov now has no basis) were unconstitutional and so illegal

Question 9

how did the south react to the decision?

Answer 9

• call upon the N to accept decision if the S is to remain in union

Question 10

what did republicans say abt the decision?

Answer 10

• siad it was not legally binding and should be appealed

Question 11

what was dred scott’s fate?

Answer 11

• decision had little effect on him- was able to purchase his freedom w help of N sympathisers