Dred Scott V. Sandford Case Study

When Europeans began colonizing in the New World, there was a large amount of work to do and very few workers to get the job done. While there were indentured servants paying their way to America in exchange for work, it was not enough. To solve this problem, Dutch ships began loading Africans against their will onto a boat to be slaves in the New World. This later became known as the Atlantic Slave Trade. After the American Revolution, slavery became less and less profitable especially in the North. Once the cotton gin was invented, more labor to work the fields in the South was needed. This made the American economy dependent upon slavery. There was much debate about the ethics of slavery and many thought it to be wrong. In 1857, the United States Supreme Court case of “Dred Scott v. Sandford” took place that changed America as we know it. This case brought up the issues of slavery and the future of the US. It brought to light the important responsibility politicians have in making important decisions that can affect the future. A …show more content…
Sandford” had some large affects on America. At the time, it showed how the US was divided between the North and South. It ultimately had a large role in leading to the Civil War. It is hard to believe that an event such as this took place less than 200 years ago. America has certainly come a long way. This court case has been considered by scholars as a “self-inflicted wound”. The decision was certainly a step in the wrong direction. It is important to note the manner in which Abraham Lincoln reacted to this decision. He had different beliefs and was not afraid to express them. He did not deliberately defy the Supreme Court yet he did not stand idly by as the decision was presented. Supreme Court rulings should be kept by politicians in order to maintain a stable government as long as the ruling is constitutional. Lincoln wanted to pursue new legislations towards