Dred Scott

646 Words2 Pages

Through chronological ordering and well known knowledge, Walter Ehrlich presented information on the Dred Scott vs. John F.A. Sanford case. In the well structured document “Dred Scott in History” by Walter Ehrlich the comprehension of the numerous delays and controversial issues compared to the document’s importance to history in sparking the Civil War. The structure and importance were kept well supported in the document written by Walter Ehrlich. Walter Ehrlich was a credible source on the Dred Scott case due to his many years studying and teaching history aiding to the effectiveness and simplicity of the comprehension of the article. Walter Ehrlich’s occupation was an “Associate Professor of History and Education at the University of Missouri-St. Louis”(182). As a professor and well educated man, Ehrlich was a credible source for providing useful facts on the Dred Scott case. In his document he did not display much of an opinion but stuck to presenting facts. He started his writing piece with the necessary background information to aid the reader on information of Dred Scott’s life. Walter Ehrlich realized “To comprehend the full significance and impact of that decision, it is imperative to understand clearly what the issues were; and the understand the issues necessitates an almost step-by-step unfolding of the litigation itself”(182). As a well knowledged individual Ehrlich knew what facts and details that needed to be included in a certain spot in order to fully understand its importance. The “step-by-step” setup of information was also beneficial in the structure of the multiple delays of the Dred Scott case. Ehrlich kept his document on Dred Scott easy to comprehend according to its organized structure of the unexpected de... ... middle of paper ... ... road that could lead only to disaster. Dred Scott might well have been the point of no return”(186). The decision to have Scott remain a slave was claimed with reasons of not being a U.S. citizen with the right to sue and for not being a freed slave to begin with. The North and South were so divided on the issue of slavery that the Dred Scott case was the match that set fire to the already established idea of an explosion of a civil war. The document “Dred Scott in History” by Walter Ehrlich remained an interest to the reader through several important details. The document of the Dred Scott case was interesting due to the effectively structured information on delays, controversial issues, and the idea of the case being the initial spark of the Civil War. Works Cited Ehrlich, Walter. “Dred Scott in History”. American History. (Vol. I, 13th Ed., 1995). 182-187.

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