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Missouri Secretary of State: Conservation of the Dred Scott Papers
Offers a description of the conservation of papers from the famous 1846 Supreme Court case in which a slave named Dred Scott asked the court for his freedom and was denied.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: Landmark Decisions
This site details the controversial issues regarding slavery and the effects they had on the Civil War amendments as well as on the fifth amendment. The site discusses events such as the Dred Scott case, the addition of the Civil War...
Other
Missouri State Archives: Freedom Suits Case Files, 1814 1860
An exhaustive, searchable website with original court records on 300 legal petitions for freedom by people of color, originally filed in St. Louis courts between 1814 and 1860.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Themepark: Liberty: Slavery in America
Find a large collection of internet resources organized around slavery in America. Links to places to go, people to see, things to do, teacher resources, and bibliographies.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: A Divided Nation
This page from the American Revolution Project of the University of Groningen discusses how the 1850s were a time of conflicting ideas between North and South regarding the expansion of slavery. Scroll down to the third paragraph and...
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: Politics and Sectionalism: Scott Versus Sandford
Outlines what happened with the Dred Scott case as it was passed on from the local state court all the way up to the federal Supreme Court, with a final decision being reached in 1857.
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: Impact of Dred Scott: Beginning Scott v Sandford
Explains the background for the Dred Scott case and its journey through the court system, finally reaching the US Supreme Court.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)
Learn about the Dred Scott decision and why it changed the course of American history even though many now consider it the worst opinion ever rendered by the U.S. Supreme Court. Includes full-page scans of the decision, a transcription,...
The History Place
The History Place: The Dred Scott Decision
This site from The History Place provides an account of the history of Dred Scott, an African-American slave, who took his suit for his freedom to the Supreme Court. The information is somewhat brief, but worthwhile.
PBS
Pbs: Cet: Africans in America: Lincoln's "House Divided" Speech
Short history and text of Abraham Lincoln's "House Divided" speech given in 1858. Click on the link to see the text of the speech. Click on Teacher's Guide for teaching resources.
PBS
Pbs: Dred Scott's Fight for Freedom (1846 1857)
Provides information on Dred Scott and his fight for freedom, and the events leading up to the Supreme Court trial in 1857.
Other
Washington University: The Dred Scott Case
The records in this exhibit document the Scotts' early struggle to gain their freedom, and are the only extant records as it was heard in the St. Louis Circuit Court.
Northern Illinois University
Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project: Teacher's Parlor
A collection of lesson plans centered around President Abraham Lincoln that helps students understand some important events in America's history. The purpose of the page is present some major themes in American history from mid...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Moving Toward Equality Under Law
As new free and slave states were admitted to the Union prior to the Civil War, political divisions kept growing, despite attempts to balance the numbers of each. The South pushed for slavery to expand westward, while anti-slavery...
US Senate
U.s. Senate Art and History: : Roger Brooke Taney
Provides information on the life of Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney. In particular, it describes his judicial career.
American Battlefield Trust
American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Trigger Events of the Civil War
A list with descriptions of the major events that led up to the outbreak of the Civil War.
Other
Missouri State Archives: St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project
This site contains millions of records that document the judicial, social, cultural, and economic history of the city, county, state, and nation. Especially Freedom Suits by slaves, Lewis and Clark materials, and material pertaining to...
Curated OER
National Park Service: The Significance of the Dred Scott Trial
In this article from "The Old Courthouse" by Donald Dosch the facts of the Dred Scott decision are laid out. Read why the outcome of the case fanned the embers of the coming Civil War.
Black Past
Black Past: Dred Scott
This encyclopedia article is a brief biography of Dred Scott, the slave who sued for his freedom. His case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, where he lost.
Columbia University
Columbia University: Columbia University & Slavery Student Research
This website was created by faculty, students, and staff to publicly present information about Columbia's historical connections to the institution of slavery. This page contains a listing of student research, interviews, and exhibits.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Us History: 1844 1877: Failure of Compromise
A quick comprehension check over the failure of compromise.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Us History: 1844 1877: Quiz 2
Take this five question quiz over US history during the mid 1800s.
iCivics
I Civics: Slavery: No Freedom, No Rights
From the basics about slavery to the attitudes that defended it and the efforts of those who wanted to see it abolished, in this instructional activity students learn about this dark part of America's past.
Social Studies Help Center
Social Studies Help Center: What Caused the Beginning of the Civil War
Discusses what caused the Civil War, including a section on the political parties of the mid 1800's.