Article
Henry J. Sage

Sage American History: Dred Scott v. Sandford

For Students 9th - 10th
Excerpts from the findings of the Dred Scott v. Sandford case, 1856, with link to the entire case.
Primary
Other

Project p.a.t.c.h.: Dred Scott v. Sandford

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource presents the text of the case, Dred Scott, Plaintiff v. John F. Sandford, which was presented to the Supreme Court in December, 1856.
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This mini-lesson covers the basics of the Supreme Court decision that determined that Dred Scott, having lived in a free territory, was not entitled to his freedom. Students learn about the impact of the Court's decision, and how it was...
Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the Dred Scott decision and why it changed the course of American history even though many now consider it the worst opinion ever rendered by the U.S. Supreme Court. Includes full-page scans of the decision, a transcription,...
Handout
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: The Supreme Court: Landmark Cases: Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS features a summary of the landmark Supreme Court case of Dred Scott v. Sanford which ruled that African Americans are not American citizens, and therefore could not sue in federal court. Decision written by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney.
Primary
Other

Missouri Secretary of State: Conservation of the Dred Scott Papers

For Students 9th - 10th
Offers a description of the conservation of papers from the famous 1846 Supreme Court case in which a slave named Dred Scott asked the court for his freedom and was denied.
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Dred Scott v. Sandford

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Encyclopedia Wikipedia provides information on the Dred Scott case, as it progressed through the Missouri state court, the Federal court system, and the appeal that went to the Supreme Court.
Article
University of Groningen

American History: Essays: Impact of Dred Scott: Beginning Scott v Sandford

For Students 9th - 10th
Explains the background for the Dred Scott case and its journey through the court system, finally reaching the US Supreme Court.
Primary
This Nation

This nation.com: Dred Scott v. Sanford (1856)

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from ThisNation.com provides Chief Justice Roger B. Taney's full text of the Supreme Court's decision in this landmark case.
Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Documents: Dred Scott Case

For Students 9th - 10th
Here you will find the primary source text of the case and the opinions of the Supreme Court Justices in the Scott v Sandford case which ultimately ruled on the constitutionality of the Missouri Compromise.
eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: The Dred Scott Decision and Sectional Strife

For Students 11th - 12th
By reading this section from a chapter on "The Tumultuous 1850s," students will understand the importance of the Supreme Court's Dred Scott ruling and be able to discuss the principles of the Republican Party as expressed by Abraham...
Activity
The History Place

The History Place: The Dred Scott Decision

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from The History Place provides an account of the history of Dred Scott, an African-American slave, who took his suit for his freedom to the Supreme Court. The information is somewhat brief, but worthwhile.
Article
University of Groningen

American History: Essays: Politics and Sectionalism: Scott Versus Sandford

For Students 9th - 10th
Outlines what happened with the Dred Scott case as it was passed on from the local state court all the way up to the federal Supreme Court, with a final decision being reached in 1857.
Activity
PBS

Pbs: Dred Scott's Fight for Freedom (1846 1857)

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides information on Dred Scott and his fight for freedom, and the events leading up to the Supreme Court trial in 1857.
Unit Plan
Curated OER

National Park Service: The Significance of the Dred Scott Trial

For Students 9th - 10th
In this article from "The Old Courthouse" by Donald Dosch the facts of the Dred Scott decision are laid out. Read why the outcome of the case fanned the embers of the coming Civil War.
Activity
Other

Washington University: The Dred Scott Case

For Students 9th - 10th
The records in this exhibit document the Scotts' early struggle to gain their freedom, and are the only extant records as it was heard in the St. Louis Circuit Court.
Primary
Cengage Learning

American Governemnt Documents Collection: Dred Scott vs. John f.a. Sandford

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a complete text of the 1857 Supreme Court decision in the case between Dred Scott and John F.A Sandford.
Activity
Illinois Institute of Technology

Oyez Project: Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

For Students 9th - 10th
This U.S. Supreme Court case dealt with the issues of slavery, citizenship, and property rights. It is detailed with an abstract providing a concise summary and a record of the justices that sat on the Court at that time.
Article
University of Groningen

American History: Essays: Impact of Dred Scott: The Road to Civil War

For Students 9th - 10th
After the Dred Scott decision by the US Supreme Court, the friction between the North and South over slavery escalated, and the North began to fear that they might not be able to prevent slavery from spreading into their states. The Dred...
Article
University of Groningen

American History: Essays: Impact of Dred Scott: The Decision

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes the difficult process the US Supreme Court judges went through in preparing their final decision in the Dred Scott case.
Article
University of Groningen

American History: Essays: Dred Scott: Dissenting Opinions and Reactions

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes the fallout after the Dred Scott decision by the US Supreme Court, where two judges released their dissenting opinions, newspaper articles both reviled and supported the decision, and public debate raged.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Dred Scott Decision

For Students 5th - 7th
Read the terms of the Dred Scott decision which determined that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional. See why this decision was so controversial and completely unacceptable to the northerners, thus driving an additional wedge...
Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Landmark Decisions

For Students 9th - 10th
This site details the controversial issues regarding slavery and the effects they had on the Civil War amendments as well as on the fifth amendment. The site discusses events such as the Dred Scott case, the addition of the Civil War...
Interactive
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Classroom: Freedom From Discrimination

For Students 9th - 10th
This website contains an interactive timeline about the history of freedom of discrimination in the United States.