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Supreme Court Decisions That Changed The Nation: Dred Scott Vs. Sandford (The Dred Scott Decision)

15 minutes 30 seconds

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Illustration of Abraham Lincoln wearing white speaking from an outdoor podium to a crowd around him. An 1850s U, S flag is nearby. Caption. Male as narrator. In the following debates with Douglas, Lincoln came closer.

Provides an overview of the Dred Scott vs. Sandford case, which was a decision by the United States Supreme Court ruling that (1) people of African descent imported into the United States and held as slaves, as well as their descendants (regardless of whether they were slaves), were not protected by the Constitution and could never be American citizens; (2) the United States Congress had no authority to prohibit slavery in federal territories; (3) because slaves were not citizens, they could not sue in court; and (4) slaves could not be taken away from their owners without due process.

Media Details

Runtime: 15 minutes 30 seconds

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Supreme Court Decisions That Changed The Nation
Episode 1
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Illustration of Abraham Lincoln wearing white speaking from an outdoor podium to a crowd around him. An 1850s U, S flag is nearby. Caption. Male as narrator. In the following debates with Douglas, Lincoln came closer.
Supreme Court Decisions That Changed The Nation
Episode 2
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