Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
Visit Dred Scott's Grave

View three photos of monuments to Dred Scott. Why do you think the African Historical and Genealogical Research Society paid for a memorial to Dred Scott? What three facts do they include about the Supreme Court's decision? If you were to create a memorial to Dred Scott, what would it say? What would it look like? Draw the memorial on a separate sheet of paper. Be sure to include an inscription.
Resources
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Teaching Recommendations
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Background Summary
and Questions

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Historical Background and Resources from "Africans in America" by PBS / WGBH
 
Diagram of How the Case Moved Through the Court System
 
Key Excerpts from the Majority Opinion
 
Key Excerpts from the Dissenting Opinion
 
Full Text of the Majority Opinion

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Activities
    The Case
Read a Dred Scott Chronology
 
Trace Dred Scott's Travels on a U.S. Map
 
Classifying Arguments in the Case
 
Political Cartoon Analysis
 
Accounts from the Courtroom

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    After the Case
Read Newspaper Editorials on the Supreme Court's Decision
 
Read Abraham Lincoln's Speech on the Dred Scott Decision
 
Read a Historian's Discussion of Dred Scott's Significance
 
Visit Dred Scott's Grave
 
How Difficult is it to Become a Citizen?

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