EOTO: Dred Scott v. Sandford

The following events either produced a pro or anti-slavery message.

On March 6, 1857, the Supreme Court made its ruling in the Dred Scott v Sandford case. This ruling solidified the idea that African American slaves are considered the property of their owners.

The facts of this case are that Dred Scott, an African American slave, was a slave to John Emerson who lived in Missouri, a slave state. Because of his military service, Emerson moved to Illinois and eventually to Wisconsin, a free state and territory, and bought Scott with him. In 1838, Emerson got married and moved back to Missouri in the early 1840s with his wife, Scott, and Scott's wife, Harriet Robinson. Emerson soon died in 1838 leaving Scott in the custody of his wife. Scott tried to purchase his and his family's freedom from Emerson's wife but she refused and that soon led to Scott going to an antislavery lawyer and trying to get his freedom through the court system.

Scott's reason for freedom was that his owner, Emerson, had taken Scott to a free state made by the Missouri Compromise; therefore, Scott was released once Emerson settled in Illinois. In 1850, the Missouri state court ruled in the favor of Scott in the case Scott v Emerson, but this ruling was reversed two years by the Missouri Supreme Court. Soon after Mrs. Emerson gave control of her estate, including Scott, to her brother-in-law John F.A. Sandford who lived in New York. Since Sandford lived in New York and could not be subjected to a suit in Missouri, Scott's lawyer filed a suit in the US district court which ruled in favor of Sandford. Soon Scott appealed the case to the US Supreme Court and the decision was announced on March 6, 1857.

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Sanford and stated the those who had ancestors that were imported into the United States could not be considered American citizens despite whether they were freed or enslaved.

This linked offers information about the court case:

https://www.britannica.com/event/Dred-Scott-decision