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History of the United States I / Unit 14   USH1 1998 short lesson, about 20 seconds

Dred Scott's Suit

Captions available

The idea

Dred Scott was born enslaved in Virginia in seventeen ninety-five and moved by the internal slave trade to Missouri, then taken to Illinois and Wisconsin Territory.

In practice

Both destinations covered by the Northwest Ordinance's prohibition of slavery.

Where people slip

Back in Missouri he tried to buy his freedom, was refused, and sued on the ground that residence in free territory had made him free.

Your place on the trail

Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.

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