The Dred Scott Decision and Sectional Strife

ASU HST 200 (Historical Themes) Troubled Times: the Tumultuous 1850s The Dred Scott Decision and Sectional Strife (Key Notes and Summary) Key Notes • Rising tensions over slavery in the United States in the 1850s; • the Dred Scott case (1857), which had a major impact on the escalation of sectional conflict; • Dred Scott, an enslaved man living in a free area, filed a lawsuit for freedom; • the Supreme Court's decision to expand the North-South divide; • Chief Justice Taney's ruling that African Americans are not US citizens and cannot file lawsuits in federal court; and the nullification of Missouri Give in "Personal liberty laws" in Northern states to safeguard African American liberties • Northerners wary of Southern supremacy in courts • Enraged abolitionists, who saw the laws as injustices promoting slavery • Increased racial divide, which sparked the American Civil War • Highlighted President Buchanan's shortcomings as a leader • Hastened the war's approach • Significant turning event in American history, dividing people along slavery lines Summary In American history, the Dred Scott case emerged as a crucial event during the 1850s, a time of rising tensions around slavery. After living in free territory, Dred Scott, an enslaved man, filed a case to be liberated. However, the US Supreme Court stunned many by refusing to grant him citizenship and upholding the legitimacy of slavery throughout all regions in its 1857 ruling. Abolitionists were incensed by this ruling, which widened the gulf between the North and the South and led to the enactment of "personal liberty laws" in the Northern states. Tensions increased as a result of President James Buchanan's incapacity to resolve the matter successfully, eventually bringing the country dangerously near to civil war. The Dred Scott decision was a significant turning point in American history by highlighting the intractable disagreements on slavery and igniting passion on both sides. The Dred Scott Decision and Sectional Strife Notes A turbulent time in American history, the 1850s saw rising hostilities over the subject of slavery. The Dred Scott case, a significant decision rendered by the US Supreme Court in 1857, was one of the major incidents that heightened sectional conflict during this time. Dred Scott, an enslaved man who had been brought by his master to live in free areas and states where slavery was illegal, was at the core of the Dred Scott case. Scott filed a lawsuit to gain his release, claiming that since he lived in a free territory, he ought to be free. Eventually, the matter reached the Supreme Court, where it became the main topic of discussion in the country about slavery. The Supreme Court's decision further widened the gulf between the North and the South and surprised many people. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice Roger B. Taney stated that African Americans, whether they were slaves or not, could not be regarded as citizens of the United States and as such, they lacked the right to file lawsuits in federal courts. In addition, the Court held that the federal government lacked the jurisdiction to outlaw slavery in the territories, so nullifying the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which had established a prohibition on slavery beyond a specific latitude. The Dred Scott ruling had a significant impact on the political climate of the country. It infuriated abolitionists and anti-slavery advocates, who perceived it as a serious injustice and proof of the federal government's prejudice in favor of slavery. The ruling was seen by many in the North as proof that the court, which was dominated by Southerners, would stop at nothing to uphold the institution of slavery. The decision further heightened tensions between the North and the South and stoked Northerners' suspicions that the Southern states, as a symbol of the slave power, were gaining ground and posing a threat to the entire country. Following the ruling, "personal liberty laws" were created in a number of Northern states with the intention of defending free African American rights and halting the application of the Fugitive Slave Act. The Dred Scott ruling deepened racial division in the nation and created the conditions for the turbulent events that would transpire in the run-up to the Civil War. It emphasized the stark moral and intellectual differences between the North and the South and showed how governmental institutions were powerless to settle the long-standing disputes over slavery. Furthermore, the Dred Scott ruling made President James Buchanan's problems much worse. Buchanan was in office at the time. Pennsylvanian Democrat James Buchanan lacked the necessary skills to handle the escalating slavery issue. His inability to act decisively as a leader and his inability to resolve tensions with force only made matters worse and accelerated the march toward war. All things considered, the Dred Scott ruling was a crucial turning point in American history that highlighted the intractable divisions over slavery between the North and the South. It increased fervor on both sides of the argument and brought the country closer to the verge of civil war.