LAD #18

The Dred Scott v. Sanford court case was monumental in deciding issues surrounding slavery. In February 1857 the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, reviewed whether the black slave Dred Scott was a free citizen or still property of his owner. He had crossed into a free-state with his owner and believed that this meant he was no longer a slave to his master. Taney decided that Dred Scott was not allowed to even bring this to court because he was not a citizen, but instead "property" of his owner. This decision meant that all slaves were considered property, regardless of what individual states viewed them as, and they can not be represented in a court. Taney also declared that Congress does not have the right to abolish slavery within the states. He concluded his decision by saying that slaves could not be taken from their owners without due process.