Blog #9

Scott vs. Sanford Supreme Court Case

The Dred Scott Case was a famous case known mainly because it was one of the first case dealing with a slave suing their owner.

Dred Scott was born a slave to slave owner Dr. John Emerson. Since Dred Scott's owner was in the military they were always moving. Scott's owner died unexpectedly died and Dred and his family were sent to work as hired slaves for their deceased masters sister whos name was Irene Marie Sanford.

In 1846 Dred Scott sued for his freedom claiming that since he had been both in a free state and on free territory that he had become legally, free. Irene turned the responsibility of the case over to her her brother John Sanford. Although Dred Scott had claimed he was a free man, the court declared that since he was not a citizen of Missouri, he could not be considered a free man.

The impact that this trial had on the community was immense. Many anti-slavery journalist called this decision an offense to the freedoms that this country was based on. The main impact was on the government who went through a rough patch after Dred Scott's decision was over turned.

This case is still relevant today because it brings u the topic of unfair trials. All though blacks are free of slavery, the decisions in the courts have not changed. In many cases today blacks are unfairly tried most the time in southern states in front of all white juries. The Dred Scott case was just a classic example of what goes on today and what will most likely persist in the future