Brief description
During the 1800’s slavery was a major issue in the U.S. One of the most controversial case was Dred Scott v. Stanford (1857). Scott was a born a slave and was owned to his master Peter. When Scott’s owner died, Peter appointed Dr. John Emerson as Scott’s new slave owner. Emerson was the new slave owner of Scott and traveled to Illinois and Missouri where slavery was outlawed by the Missouri Compromise. Scott wanted his freedom, but his slave owner did not agree with him so the debate ended up in the Supreme Court.
Jurisdiction
In the beginning, the Supreme Court Justices held that the case had no jurisdiction because Scott was not a considered a citizen. The court was limited to cases between citizens of the states therefore …show more content…
Scott lived and traveled with his slave owner to Illinois and Missouri where slavery was legal. The court made a mistake in declaring the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional because they did not only put in jeopardy Scott’s freedom, but the rest of the newly freed slaves as well. According to the Supreme Court Justices the majority declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional because it deprived property (Dred Scott, Plaintiff in Error, v. John F. A. Sanford 2009, p1. 100p) However, it was not until July 9, 1868 that the constitution was ratified to recognize any born person a citizen of the United State by clearly stating that “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside…. nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws” (U.S. Constitution. Art VII. Amend. XIV, Sec. 1.). Sooner or later justice was to be made and it did on July 9, 1868. Having said this the freed slaves born in the U.S had the same rights the white citizens had, but newly freed slaves had been denied. This Amendment slaughters any prejudice like the ones the court used against Scott and any slave who fights for his rights and liberty.
In conclusion, Dred Scott v. Stanford was the case in which justice was made after many years of unfair treatment and broken dreams. Slavery was finally abolished and the Fifth Amendment was made legal through the fourteen amendment to recognize African Americans as citizens, denied them as property, and outlawed slavery. Justice is always righteous and fair to the people that for years suffered a life in which the slaves did not choose to live, free at