220px dred scott photograph (circa 1857)

The Life of Dred Scott

By Shurickin

  • The Birth of Dred Scott

    Dred Scott was born in 1795, in Southampton County, Virginia.

  • Scott Gets Sold to John Emerson

    The Blow family was having trouble financially, so they sold Dred Scott to the medical surgeon, John Emerson.

  • When Scott Got Moved to a "Free" State

    Scott went with his master to the state of Illinois, a state that prohibited slavery with the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and the State Constitution of 1818.

  • Moving From One "Free" State to Another and Finding Dred Scott's Wife

    Emerson and Scott then moved to Wisconsin, a state that prohibited slavery with the Missouri Compromise of 1820. This is also when Dred met his wife, Harriet. Emerson approved of their marriage.

  • The First Child is Born

    Harriet and Dred were moved down to Jefferson Barracks to get to master Emerson. On board the steamboat to get there, the first child Eliza was born.

  • The Death of a Master

    Emerson died at this point in time, from the Seminole War. This left Scott's family to Emerson's widow, Irene.

  • The Beginning

    Dred and Harriet Scott filed separate petitions for their freedom.

  • Losing the First Case

    Dred Scott lost because the Missouri Supreme Court didn't let them have a second trial.

  • They Nearly Get Freedom

    Dred Scott and his family won his freedom but Ms. Emerson appealed the case.

  • Losing Once Again

    Missouri Supreme Court overturns the lowers court's decision.

  • The Next Case

    Dred Scott makes another case against Ms. Emerson's brother, John Stanford.

  • The End of an 11 Year War

    The ending of the case was that slaves were property and didn't have the right to sue and Congress doesn't have the right to prohibit slavery.