The Case Of Dred Scott Vs Sandford

Dred Scott was a slave for Dr.John Emerson , while traveling with Dr.Emerson Dred Scott was taken into the free state of Illinois. In 1836 , after staying in Illinois for two and a half years , Dr.Emerson decided to move to Wisconsin with Dred Scott. Dred Scott's stay in Illinois and Wisconsin both being places where slavery is prohibited , were chances for Scott to to make a claim to the court in the free states. After Dr.Emerson had died in 1843 , Dr.Emerson’s wife took over Scott and his wife. Dred Scott offered to buy his wife’s and his own freedom from Mrs.Emerson for $300. When his offer was denied , Dred decided to make a case in the court.
His case was tried in a court twice , the first trial was from February 11-14, 1856 , the second

Sandford was taken to a federal court , the people on the jury were Roger Taney , James Wayne , John Catron , Peter Daniel , Samuel Nelson , Robert Grier , John Campbell , John McLean , and Benjamin Curtis. During the trial , Dred Scott used the 5th amendment as his defence stating that the 5th amendment is supposed to prohibit the misuse of power undertaken by the government.The final verdict of the court was given on March 6, 1857. Scott’s claim was overlooked , since seven of the justices agreed that Scott was not even considered a citizen since he was a slave , so he couldn’t even make a court case. Roger Taney , James Wayne , John Catron , Peter Daniel , Samuel Nelson , Robert Grier , and John Campbell all voted in favor of Sandford , and John Mclean and Benjamin Curtis voted in favor of Dred

What the 13th amendment did was make slavery illegal in the United States , how the Dred Scott case had an effect on this was that when Northerners had heard about this they were upset about how he had lived in Illinois , one of their free states , as a slave. The fact that Dred Scott lost his case because he was not considered a citizen , so therefore he could not make a case in the first place , is one of the things that lead to the 14th amendment. The 14th amendment gave all people equal protection under the constitution , so if something similar to Dred Scott’s case were to happen it would not matter what race or history that person had , they now have the right equal and fair