LAD #14 Dredd Scott

The infamous Scott v. Sanford case would not only give a ruling on that particular law suit, but it would also bring into play the issues of Negro citizenship as well as the constitutionality of the Missouri Compromise. On James Buchanan’s inauguration day he knew what the verdict of the case was and he used this knowledge in his speech. Two days after his inauguration, the nine judges, led by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, addressed the question of Negro citizenship for both black slaves, and free-blacks. It was determined by Taney that blacks, free or slave, were not U.S. citizens and therefore did not have the right to be suing. Also it was determined that the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional because it denied slave-owners of their property in those regions. Taney sent the case to a lower court due to lack of jurisdiction and the verdict of the Missouri Supreme Court was upheld, in favor of Sanford. This case was a very important point in American history, it deemed the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, and more importantly it made it clear that all slaves were seen as property and had equal rights as a chair does.