Bell Ringer: With a neighbor, discuss the roles of slaves in American society.

You have 2 mins.

Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)

A southern slave, Dred Scott was taken by his owner to the North and then back into slavery in the South. Scott sued for his freedom. Having been on free soil, he argued that he could not be taken back into slavery.

What do you think?

Do you agree with Scott or not?

Decision/ Significance:

• Chief Justice Roger Taney stated that because Scott was a "descendant of African born slaves", that he was declared to be a non-citizen, and there for was not allowed to bring a law suit to the supreme court.

Taney also stated that

• Africans could never become U.S citizens since they were not included in the U.S Constitution.

• That slaves were property, not people

• Congress had no right to take away a slave holder's property.

• And because slavery was still legal, the Missouri Compromise and any other bans on slavery are unconstitutional

What do you think the impact of this decision will be?

Discuss with a neighbor.

Chief Justice Taney's ruling meant that

• Slavery could spread

• This worried people in the North who had not had slavery for a very long time.

• It also increased tensions between the North and the South.

• The decision questioned Congress' ability to control the spread of slavery.