The Dred Scott Decision

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The Dred Scott Decision

• Emily Blake
• Staley Upper Elementary School
• 5th Grade Powerpoint
• EBLAKE_at_romecsd.org

2
On your own and on the worksheet provided 1)
Write a definition for the word property. 2) List
some examples of property.
3
With your group and using your definition of
property, decide what you would do in the
situation below. Write your answer on the
worksheet provided
You live in Georgia where they allow the riding
of bikes. You then move with your family to New
York State where bike-riding is not allowed.
Later, after several years, you move back to
Georgia. Does the bike still belong to you? Why
or why not?
4
With your group, using your definition of
property, and your ideas from the previous bike
situation, answer the question below. Write your
answer on the worksheet provided
Does Congress have the right to say that you
cannot ride your bike in Georgia (a state that
allows bike-riding), since it had lived in New
York (a state that does not allow bike-riding)
for so long? Why or why not?
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Who was Dred Scott?
Dred Scott was the name of an African-American
slave. He was taken by his master, an officer in
the U.S. Army, from the slave state of Missouri
to the free state of Illinois and then to the
free territory of Wisconsin. He lived on free
soil for a long period of time. When the Army
ordered his master to go back to Missouri, he
took Scott with him back to that slave state,
where his master died. In 1846, Scott was helped
by Abolitionist (anti-slavery) lawyers to sue for
his freedom in court, claiming he should be free
since he had lived on free soil for a long time.
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Who was his owner?
Dr. John Emerson was a doctor in the United
States army. The army required him to move
throughout the United States. He did not decide
to move on his own.
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The 4 Steps of the American History Public Policy
Analyst (AHPPA) Define the Problem Gather the
Evidence Identify the Causes Evaluate the Policy
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What Events Caused This?
Emerson is transferred back to Missouri A Slave
State He passes away shortly after.
Emerson is stationed in Missouri A Slave State
Emerson is transferred to Illinois A Non-Slave
State
Emerson is transferred to Wisconsin A Non-Slave
State
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The Two Sides of the ArgumentWhat is the problem?

• Dred Scott
• Lived in a non-slave area long enough to be
  considered a free man.
• His owner passed away, therefore he does not have
  an owner

• US Supreme Court
• Dred Scott was not a US Citizen because he was a
  slave
• Congress has no right to control a persons
  property

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What would your decision be?Write down your
decision on the worksheet provided.

• Which side do you think should win?
• Think about the arguments.
• Think about our activating strategy.

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What did the Supreme Court decide?

• In March of 1857, Scott lost the decision as
  seven out of nine Justices on the Supreme Court
  declared no slave or descendant of a slave could
  be a U.S. citizen, or ever had been a U.S.
  citizen. As a non-citizen, the court stated,
  Scott had no rights and could not sue in a
  Federal Court and must remain a slave.
• The Supreme Court also ruled that Congress could
  not stop slavery in the newly emerging
  territories and declared the Missouri Compromise
  of 1820 to be unconstitutional. The Missouri
  Compromise prohibited slavery north of the
  parallel 3630 in the Louisiana Purchase. The
  Court declared it violated the Fifth Amendment of
  the Constitution which prohibits Congress from
  depriving persons of their property without due
  process of law.

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The 4 Steps of the American History Public Policy
Analyst (AHPPA) Define the Problem Gather the
Evidence Identify the Causes Evaluate the Policy
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Evaluate the PolicyDid the Supreme Court get it
right?

• On the worksheet provided, write whether you
  think the Supreme Court made the right decision.
• -Remember to think about the law
• -Remember to think about the arguments
• -Remember to think about our activating
  strategy
• Give reasons for your answer

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Leading to War

• How might this event have contributed to the
  start of the Civil War?
• Write your answer on the worksheet provided.