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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.