Essay Database

The Establishment and Exercise of Judicial Review Dred Scott v. Sandford 19 Howard (60 U.S.) 393, 15 L. Ed. 691 (1857) Vote: 7-2 Issue: Can a Negro, whose ancestors were imported into this country, and sold as slaves, become a member of the political community formed and brought into existence by the Constitution of the United States, and as such become entitled to all the rights, and privileges, and immunities, guaranteed by that instrument to the citizen? One of which …

…New Jersey, and North Carolina, though descended from African slaves, were not only citizens of those States, but on equal terms with other citizens. Comments: By far the most significant decision of the Taney Court was the Dred Scott case. Sharp regional divisions, aggravated by the Court’s defense of slavery, ultimately split the nation. Even though Dred Scott lost this case, he and his family ultimately gained full freedom in the State of Missouri.