Makyle

Dred Scott Decision Dred Scott was born as a slave for Peter Blow in the early 1800s. Peter Blow moved from Missouri to St. Louis where he sold Scott to John Emerson in 1830. In 1836, Scott's new master, John Emerson, a U.S. Army surgeon, moved to Fort Snelling, an army post in what is now Minnesota. Back then this was in a territory that banned slavery under the Missouri Compromise. When Scott was at Fort Snelling, he married Harriet Robinson, who was also a slave. In 1837 Emerson left Fort Snelling for Jefferson Barracks without Dred and his wife Harriet. While Emerson was away, he married Irene Sanford during a brief stay in Louisiana. It is believed that Mrs. Emerson hired out Dred Scott, Harriet, and their two children to work for other families. There are three ideas that might have influenced Dred Scott to sue at this time. First, he did not like being hired out. This may be because the Scotts were happy with John Emerson but not his wife, Irene. Another idea was that Mrs. Emerson might have been planning to sell him, or Dred might have tried to buy his freedom and was refused. These things might have upset the Scotts because they were happy doing work for one master but not many. The case first came to court in 1847. The Scotts lost their first trial because of rumors and gossip. This was because some people made lies up about the Scotts so they would lose the case. They were given the right to a second trial by the judge. In 1850, a second trial was held in the same courtroom. When the jury heard the evidence, they decided that Dred Scott and his family should be free. Mrs. Emerson didn’t want to lose the Scotts. This is why she appealed her case to the Missouri State Supreme Court. In 1852 they reversed the ruling and returned Dred Scott to slavery. The Missouri law would support the slave owners and not the slaves. Soon the chief of the Supreme Court chose Dred and his family not a citizen of America, therefore their freedom was saved.