D3) Dredd Scott Case Flashcards

1
Q

Who was Dred Scott?

A
  • sl from Missouri
  • moved with his owner to free states illinios & wisconsin, got married here, then back to missouri w master (who he got on well with)
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2
Q

what happened after dred scott’s master dies?

A
  • 1840s, sued his master’s widow for his freedom for wrongful imprisonment, claiming he should be free as he’d lived on sl land for 4 years
  • his wife and kids’ freedom concerned too
  • helped by anti-sl lawyers
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3
Q

what questions became apparent once the case came to the supreme court?

A
  • a national issue
  • after long & drawn-out case
  • can a sl sue for his freedom?
  • is slavery legal?
  • is a sl property?
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4
Q

what was the makeup of the supreme court?

A
  • 5 Ss, 4Ns, lead by CHIEF JUSTICE ROGER TANEY- from Maryland, quite moderate, a roman catholic so against sl but wanted it gone gradually
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5
Q

what do republicans crit buchanan for after his inaugeration speech?

A
  • dred scott decision made 6th march, inaugeration is 4th march
  • reps calimed the whispered convos between taney and buchanan on inaugeration day wre proof that he knew the decision before asking As to accept it
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6
Q

what did buchanan say of the case in his inaugeration speech?

A
  • claimed he knew nothing of court’s decision, said he was ready to ‘cheerfully submit’ to its verdict and urged all As to do so too
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7
Q

what was the northern reaction to the decision?

A
  • N NPs launched harsh onslaught on SC & some editors talked of defyin the law
  • speculation of buchanan- sets off presidency with corruption + bias + S leanings evident- fueled by reps
  • further sectional antagonism- seen by some Ns as an attempt to outlaw rep party
  • Ns angered- further proof of slave power
  • refuse to enforce FSL- increase PLLs, start actively hiding & helping ppl
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8
Q

what was the dred scott decision?

A
  • slaves cannot sue the US for their freedom bc they are property
  • they are NOT citizens & have no legal right under const
  • black ppl, whether sl or free, did not have the same rights as white ppl
  • so SC has basically legalised slavery by saying that:
  • Congress could not stop a slave owner from moving his slaves to a new territory
  • missouri comp & all other comps (1850, pop sov now has no basis) were unconstitutional and so illegal
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9
Q

how did the south react to the decision?

A
  • call upon the N to accept decision if the S is to remain in union
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10
Q

what did republicans say abt the decision?

A
  • siad it was not legally binding and should be appealed
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11
Q

what was dred scott’s fate?

A
  • decision had little effect on him- was able to purchase his freedom w help of N sympathisers
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