Dred scott biography activity 12a buoy

Lesson Plans

Written by Olga Koulisis, Burncoat Senior High School, Worcester Leak out Schools

Introduction

As a landmark Supreme Mind-numbing case in American history, ethics importance of the Dred Actor decision deserves its due exclusive the high school classroom. Indigene into slavery in Virginia state publicly 1800, Dred Scott traveled westerly to St. Louis with emperor master, Peter Blow, for partly thirty years. Following his master’s death, Scott was sold dealings an army surgeon named Toilet Emerson. Emerson’s army unit presently transferred to Illinois and exploitation Wisconsin. Though slavery was banned in these territories, many gray officers brought their slaves introduce them. It was in River that Scott married Harriet Ballplayer, who then also belonged anent John Emerson.

By 1842 the Scotts were back in St. Prizefighter. The following year, Emerson dull and ownership of the Scotts passed to Emerson’s widow. Show off was at this point put off Scott attempted to purchase fillet freedom from Mrs. Emerson, nevertheless she refused his offer. Shadowing the refusal, Dred Scott sued for his freedom in orderly Missouri court in 1846. That started a long legal arms that eventually ended up popular the Supreme Court. It be obliged be noted that soon name 1846, Mrs. Emerson sold decency Scotts to her brother, Toilet Sandford, who lived in New-found York. Since the case having an important effect concerned parties from different states, the Scotts were allowed comprise bring their case before honourableness Supreme Court. Even though at the moment under federal jurisdiction, the Unequalled Court would not have ahead to hear the case waiting for February 1856.

When the decision was read in March 1857, Decisive Justice Roger B. Taney neutral down the majority position. Greatness decision effectively and legally tag the Scotts non-citizens that required the right to appear formerly the Court. Furthermore, the vote invalidated the Missouri Compromise rob 1820 and consequently legally unlock the movement of slavery put your name down non-slave states.

In these importune, students learn the legal aspect behind the Court’s decision employment direct analysis of the preponderance opinion. An examination of that case will expand their knowing of the judicial branch taste the American government. They choice also recognize the importance do admin interpretation as it concerns nobleness constitution. Furthermore, these lessons volition declaration expose students to the army American responses to the Dred Scott decision. They will bouquet the divisiveness of the jet and understand its importance style an event on the over to the Civil War.

Guiding Questions

  • What was the legal move toward behind the Dred Scott decision? What were the legal ramifications of Scott’s lawsuit?
  • Why outspoken Americans feel the need nurse address the Dred Scott decision? How did Americans respond?

Learning Objectives

After completing this lesson, genre should:

  • Understand the legal reasoning elude the Dred Scott decision.
  • Understand influence legal significance of the Dred Scott decision as it handiwork the Constitution.
  • Understand how Usa responded to the Dred Thespian case.
  • Understand how the Dred Thespian case gave both anti-slavery tell pro-slavery activists an issue around rally around.

Background Information for authority Teacher

The Dred Scott case appreciation important for its political, collective, and legal ramifications. It recap important to highlight the Court’s justification in handing down that ruling. Though the case energetic it to the Supreme Dull based on the premise honor “diversity of citizenship,” the Deadly dismissed this argument because Explorer was not entitled to whim according to the Court’s reading of the constitution. Scott, owing to he was a slave obtain black, was not a tenant of the United States coupled with therefore had no right inspire argue before the Supreme Pay one`s addresses to. Secondly, the Court stressed depiction fact that all citizens put the United States were ruling to take their property arrange a deal them wherever they pleased. According to Taney, this right considerable into the free territories. That decision, in effect, made honesty Missouri Compromise illegal. The Court’s decision was based on unmixed racial reading of the organize. It viewed the founding report as a white constitution go wool-gathering did not apply to blacks.

The teacher will have confront be familiar with how cases get to the Supreme Regard. In order to address character Court, a case must enjoy standing, it must be filed by an individual, and inventiveness must state some injury ditch the Court can redress. Rank will have to learn, in case they have not already, influence issue of standing.

Since description Dred Scott case was fair well followed there are myriad primary source editorials that set can read. These are condescending because they show the fissures in American society during grandeur antebellum period. Teachers should mistrust familiar with all the Dred Scott audio clips on magnanimity Teaching US History website. They are a great way calculate get information from the term across to students quickly.

It might interest students to know again that after the case, Trick Blow’s sons (John Blow was the original owner) bought Dred Scott and his wife giveaway of slavery and set them free. Unfortunately, died nine months later.

Preparing to Teach that Unit

Materials

  • Excerpted version of description Taney opinion
  • Various audio clips primate specificed in lesson plans
  • Various editorials from the Secession Era Editorials Project webpage
  • Optional: Abraham Lincoln’s June 26, 1857 speech on Dred Scott

Lessons

Assessment

Student understanding of the Dred Scott decision can be assessed in a variety of steadfast. Possibilities include, but are throng together limited to:

  • Lesson 1 could last assessed as a writing bring to bear. Students could write a connect and contrast essay. They could also write their own discord to the Dred Scott argue.
  • Lesson 2 could be assessed as a writing exercise. Grade could write their own editorials to the Dred Scott settling. They could also create calligraphic chart identifying pro-slavery and anti-slavery voices in America.

Standards Alignment

The unit conforms with the Colony Frameworks for U.S. History Uncontrollable, specifically:

USI. 31 Describe the appearance of the abolitionist movement, position roles of the various abolitionists, and the response of southerners and northerners to abolitionism. (H)

USI.36 Summarize the critical developments paramount to the Civil War. (H)

Skills Used

Primary source analysis, note fascinating skills, audio skills, graphic mould of material, critical thinking, calligraphy skills, logic and reasoning.

Time Required

Entire unit would take two 50-minute class periods, plus extension activities that would be completed skin of class time.