Dred Scott Decision

Definition

The Dred Scott Decision was a landmark Supreme Court ruling in 1857 that stated enslaved African American Dred Scott was not entitled to his freedom despite living in free states, and declared that African Americans could not be considered citizens of the United States. This decision intensified national divisions over slavery and contributed to the growing tensions leading to the Civil War.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Dred Scott Decision was delivered by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, who argued that African Americans were not citizens and had no legal standing to sue in federal court.
2. The ruling declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, effectively allowing slavery to expand into territories where it had previously been prohibited.
3. The decision ignited fierce debates in Congress and among the public, further polarizing opinions on slavery in America.
4. Following the decision, Dred Scott was eventually granted freedom by his owner, but his case remained a symbol of the injustices faced by African Americans.
5. The Dred Scott Decision is often cited as one of the key events that escalated tensions between the North and South, contributing directly to the outbreak of the Civil War.

Review Questions

• How did the Dred Scott Decision challenge previous legislative compromises regarding slavery in the United States?
  • The Dred Scott Decision directly challenged previous legislative compromises such as the Missouri Compromise by declaring it unconstitutional. This ruling stated that Congress had no authority to prohibit slavery in federal territories, undermining efforts to maintain a balance between slave and free states. The decision eliminated established agreements meant to ease tensions over slavery, escalating conflicts instead.
• What were the immediate political reactions to the Dred Scott Decision from both pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions?
  • The Dred Scott Decision sparked immediate and intense reactions from both pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions. Pro-slavery advocates celebrated it as a victory that protected their rights, while anti-slavery activists viewed it as a gross injustice and an affront to human rights. This polarization led to increased political activism on both sides, contributing to rising tensions leading up to the Civil War.
• Evaluate how the Dred Scott Decision reflected and influenced societal attitudes toward race and citizenship in America leading up to the Civil War.
  • The Dred Scott Decision illustrated deeply entrenched societal attitudes regarding race and citizenship in America by asserting that African Americans could not be citizens, regardless of their circumstances. This ruling reinforced racist ideologies that dehumanized Black individuals and denied them basic rights. The decision also galvanized anti-slavery sentiments, leading many abolitionists and moderate citizens to re-examine their views on race and civil rights, ultimately influencing broader movements toward equality and justice leading up to and during the Civil War.

Related terms

Missouri Compromise: A legislative agreement from 1820 that allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state, while prohibiting slavery north of the 36°30′ latitude line.

Fugitive Slave Act: A law passed in 1850 that required the return of runaway enslaved individuals to their owners, fueling tensions between slave and free states.

Abraham Lincoln: The 16th President of the United States who opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories and led the nation during the Civil War.