Dred Scott Case Essay, Research Paper

The Dred Scott case is one of the most significant cases in American history. Dred Scott was a former slave of a master named, Peter Blow. When Mr. Blow became financially in trouble he sold Dred Scott to Dr. John Emerson who was a physician. The military career of Dr. Emerson he traveled to many places including Illinois which at the time it was prohibited to own a slave which was stated in the Missouri Compromise of 1820. Under the servitude towards Dr. Emerson Dred Scott married Harriet Robinson and through the marriage they had two daughters Eliza and Lizzie. Also during the servitude from Dred Scott, Dr. Emerson married Eliza Irene Sanford, who had a brother that had a lot of influence in the legal case. In 1843, Dr. Emerson died and left his wife Eliza the slaves of the Scott family. On April 6, 1846, Mr. and Mrs. Dred Scott sued Mrs. Emerson on the account of freedom. There was a three-year postponement Mrs. Emerson re-married to Dr. Calvin Clifford Chaffee. She left everything in St. Louis, which included the slave case to her brother John F. A. Sanford who was a businessman. Through the case there were many ups and downs. There was debate over the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and also the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. The Dred Scott vs. John F. A. Sanford case lasted eleven years. Hugh A. Garland who was Sanford s attorney said that Dred Scott wasn t a citizen of the states of Missouri so he couldn t actually sue Mrs. Emerson. Through the case of Dred Scott vs. John F. A. Sanford the Supreme Court of the United States of America came to recognized and acknowledge the statement of, Once free always free and also the case gave constitutional sanction to the slaves of America. Even though the court concluded that Dred Scott wasn t allowed to sue Mr. Emerson for freedom because of lack of jurisdiction. After the court made it s decision the information that the ownership for Dred Scott and his family changed to Taylor Blow. In May 26, 1856, Dred Scott and his family were free by his owner.