Dred Scott V. Stanford

    Dred Scott was born a slave in 1795 and was married in 1836. Dred Scott was an African American slave who sued for his freedom unsuccessfully. His original owner was Peter Blow, but he couldn't afford him. So he sold Scott to a surgeon in the army, Dr. John Emerson. Dred had a wife named Harriet and two daughters, named Eliza and Lizzy. 


    Dread was famously known as a historical figure who started the idea of ending slavery. The famous court case in history, "Scott V. Sandford," led to "The Dred Scott Decision," and it aroused United States citizens into starting a Civil War.  


    While Dred and his wife Harriet were slaves of Emerson, he moved to Ilinois and the Wisconsin Territory, where Dr. Emerson was stationed. According to state laws and the Northwest Ordinance of 1887, in Illinois and the Wisconsin territory, slavery was illegal. Later, John Emerson died, and the Dred family was still owned by Irene Emerson, Johns's wife. Dred knew that once a slave entered free state, they become free. But, Dred did not become free when he was in Illinois or Wisconsin territory. So, Dred sued Irene for keeping him a slave while he was in free territory.

    The court ruled 7-2 against Dred Scott and claimed that no African American can claim citizenship in the United States. This was one of the most important legal battles in history. Congress also stated that they could not prohibit slavery in the United States. This is considered a big case that was held in the Missouri Supreme Court building. This is also known as the Old Courthouse, which is still open today. 



    Dred went to court because he was kept as a slave while being in states where slavery was illegal. If slaves went there, they would become free, but Dred did not. He sued Irene Emerson and won in the state circuit court; the court then lost in the Missouri Supreme Court. Then John F. Sanford, Irene's son, brought him to a federal court, and they ruled against Dred. Once again, he lost against the Supreme Court 7-2. 

    After fighting for his freedom for ten years, Dred did not win his freedom in the courts. After Irene Emerson remarried, her new husband disagreed with slavery. So she sold Dred Scott and his family to Taylor Blow. Dreds original owner's daughter. Taylor and her brothers helped pay for his court fees and set him free. Although the Scotts were free, Dred did not get to enjoy his freedom long. He died at the age of 62 on September 17, 1858. He was only free for about a year.

    The government did not agree with African Americans becoming free, Dred Scott started new ideas of becoming free. The entire nation was aroused by the supreme court decisions. The Dred Scott Decision played a key role in starting the Civil War. Dred Scott was an American hero who inspired many people to fight for what is right. 

    As far as I am concerned, it's really disappointing that he fought hard for himself and his family, right only for him to gain freedom for a year before his death. It's not right he never got to enjoy his life. This right here is why slavery is inhuman. He was a person no matter the color of his skin. We have African Americans breathe the same as any white person so, why did we have to endure this struggle. This is a prime example of how slaves had to go through so much just to be put back down and disregarded. 

Citations
Website: Urofsky, Melvin I.. "Dred Scott Decision." Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Sep. 2020, https://www.britannica.com/event/Dred-Scott-decision. Accessed 24 February 2021.
Website: Dred Scott Case - Decision, Definition & Impact - HISTORY Dred Scott 
Author: History Editors
Website: PBS.com Dred Scott's fight for freedom Dred Scott (pbs.org)
Website: Dred Scott v. Sandford | Oyez "Dred Scott v. Sandford." Oyez, www.oyez.org/cases/1850-1900/60us393. Accessed 24 Feb. 2021.








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