LAD/Blog #19: The Dred Scott Decision

The Missouri Compromise stated that Maine would be a free state, but that Missouri would be a slave state. it also set up the idea that no territory west of the line 36 30 excluding Missouri would become slave territories. This relates to Dred Scott's case because he lived in territory beyond 36 30, never filed for freedom, but then decided to and was denied his freedom regardless of the fact that he lived in free states. Taney made Dred Scott as object and possession saying that he was property and property could not sue, thus he had no right to sue let alone sue for freedom. This case was a major cause of the Civil War. It showed just how little respect Slaves had from Whites.