Curated OER
The Growing National Crisis: The 1850s (5)
In this online interactive American history worksheet, students respond to 12 matching questions regarding slavery in 1850's America. Students may check their answers immediately.
Curated OER
How We Got to Kansas-Nebraska
Students explore the causes of the Civil War. In this lesson on slavery students use primary sources to examine the evolution of the issue of slavery and in the American political system. Students will then write a follow-up essay...
Curated OER
Reconstruction
Learners investigate the historical period of the Reconstruction and the events that surrounded the abolitionist movement. Students use guided questions to conduct research. Then they complete a venn diagram in order to compare two...
Curated OER
History 1 Word Search Puzzle
For this social studies worksheet, students look for the words in the puzzle that are related to the theme of the word search. Spelling skills are worked on.
US National Archives
National Archives: From Dred Scott to the Civil Rights Act of 1875
The Dred Scott case decided that African Americans were not citizens of the United States. However, 18 years later they would have citizenship and many other rights. Students will examine the following documents to understand how and why...
University of Groningen
American History: Documents: Dred Scott Case
Here you will find the primary source text of the case and the opinions of the Supreme Court Justices in the Scott v Sandford case which ultimately ruled on the constitutionality of the Missouri Compromise.
Other
Project p.a.t.c.h.: Dred Scott v. Sandford
This resource presents the text of the case, Dred Scott, Plaintiff v. John F. Sandford, which was presented to the Supreme Court in December, 1856.
Other
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.
US National Archives
Docsteach: From Dred Scott to Civil Rights Act of 1875: Eighteen Years of Change
In 1857, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the Dred Scott decision that African-Americans were not citizens of the United States. Yet within 18 years, Black Americans would not only have citizenship, but would be guaranteed the right to...
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,...
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.
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.
Henry J. Sage
Sage American History: Dred Scott v. Sandford
Excerpts from the findings of the Dred Scott v. Sandford case, 1856, with link to the entire case.
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.
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.
Digital History
Digital History: The Controversial Dred Scott Decision [Pdf]
The Dred Scott case was a test case on whether African-Americans, whether free or slave, had any rights. Find out what led up to this controverisal decision, and read the reasoning of the majority opinion as expressed by Chief Justice...
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: Impact of Dred Scott: The Decision
Describes the difficult process the US Supreme Court judges went through in preparing their final decision in the Dred Scott case.
This Nation
This nation.com: Dred Scott v. Sanford (1856)
This site from ThisNation.com provides Chief Justice Roger B. Taney's full text of the Supreme Court's decision in this landmark case.
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.
iCivics
I Civics: Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
This mini-lesson covers the basics of the Supreme Court decision that determined that Dred Scott, having lived in a free territory, was not entitled to his freedom. Students learn about the impact of the Court's decision, and how it was...
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: Impact of Dred Scott: In Federal Judicial System
Describes how the Dred Scott became increasingly significant politically as it progressed through the court system, finally reaching the US Supreme Court.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Dred Scott v. Sandford
This site from the Encyclopedia Wikipedia provides information on the Dred Scott case, as it progressed through the Missouri state court, the Federal court system, and the appeal that went to the Supreme Court.
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: Impact of Dred Scott: The Road to Civil War
After the Dred Scott decision by the US Supreme Court, the friction between the North and South over slavery escalated, and the North began to fear that they might not be able to prevent slavery from spreading into their states. The Dred...
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: Dred Scott: Dissenting Opinions and Reactions
Describes the fallout after the Dred Scott decision by the US Supreme Court, where two judges released their dissenting opinions, newspaper articles both reviled and supported the decision, and public debate raged.