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Dred Scott Case Summary

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Dred Scott had reconnected with the sons of his original owner Peter Blow. Henry and Taylor Blow gave Dred legal advice, as well as financial help, in his quest for Freedom. On April 6, 1846 the Scott family filed a suit for their freedom in county court represented by lawyers Burd and Risk. Thinking they had a solid proof case, as they had been residents of multiple free states for over a decade, the Scotts went into their trial with hope, only to be let down. The case was dismissed due to the cross examination of witness Samuel Russell, who had originally stated that he had hired the Scott family from Ms. Emerson, then later changing his testimony saying his wife made the arrangement and he did not know the terms in which the Scotts came to work for him. The …show more content…
With new legal counsel and a new person to sue, the Scotts case was underway. According to their new counsel, a local attorney by the name of Roswell Field, Irene Emerson sold the Scotts to her brother John Sanford. It had been rumored the reason for the sell was because Irene’s current husband, Calvin Chaffee, was antislavery. Regardless of the reason, this was a blessing for the Scotts because they were now able to go back to the federal circuit court, this time suing John Sanford for freedom as well as assault and false imprisonment. During the trial in 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed, which essentially undid the Missouri Compromise. This new act as well as the presiding judge, judge Wells, was able to sway the jury in favor of Sanford, who ended up winning the case. Sanford winning the case was a huge blow for not only the Scott family but also the lawyer who had staked his career on the case. Even though they lost the case, Dred and Harriet did not give up, this loss proved to make them more determined. Even though they were ready to go another round, they were having a hard time finding legal counsel to argue their case in front of the Supreme

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