Dred Scott Case Essay

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1) Why did the Dred Scott decision galvanize opposition to slavery among northerners?
In the Dred Scott case, serious constitutional questions were raised when the U. S. Supreme Court ruled that Scott and other slaves were not considered citizens, because the constitution gave the right of citizenship only to members of the white race. This “bombshell” decision galvanize opposition to slavery among northerners who were outraged that Mr. Scott could not sue in court for his freedom. Though Mr. Scott claimed that because he had lived as a resident of a free state he was considered a free man, the U. S. Supreme Court declared that the federal government did not have the power to prohibit slavery in federal territories. Therefore the Supreme Court’s “threatening and immoral” ruling in this case annulled the Missouri Compromise, a Congressional act passed in 1820 that allowed Missouri to be admitted as a slave state, while prohibiting slavery in the Louisiana Purchase north of latitude 36°30′N. Furthermore, for northerners who opposed slavery and wanted it outlawed, this decision implied that slavery could openly and freely move into the north. Outraged filled the …show more content…

The persuasive strategies used by the multiple contributors in the slavery debate brutally depict the issues of that time period for citizens of all classes and economic levels. For example, Douglas used the fear of interracial marriages between blacks and whites to appeal to southern interests. His formal language and use of analogies help Douglas make his point. Likewise, Helper’s strategy was to appeal economically to rich southern non-slave holders. His use of imagery and figurative language depict how ineffective slavery is in the south, and how it will obstruction the economic development of all whites.
4) What were the fundamental conflicts between the various individuals in the

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