Dred Scott vs. John F.A. Sandford

Paper Summary:

This paper begins by describing Dred Scott's quest for freedom and the potential impact of the case rulings. The paper shows why Scott believed he should be free and this belief eventually led to a lawsuit against Scott's new owner, John F.A. Sanford. The case was finally brought up in the Supreme Court. The paper shows how the decision of Chief Justice Taney determined the case's outcome - and the fate of the United States.

From the Paper:

"Dred Scott was a Virginian slave born at the turn of the 19th century, who felt that he had a right to freedom for having lived in free territories for an extended period of time. He, in the debate about whether or not he deserved his freedom, would be the cause of many troubles before the Civil War in the United States. His case and press for liberty were extremely complex, and the Supreme Court's response was rather typical of its era. Nevertheless, the decision was immensely important as it sealed the fate of the Civil War, angering northerners and pleasing southerners, and consequently further dividing the country. In this case Chief Justice Roger Taney delivered several rulings made on what were considered to be facts regarding equality."

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