Dred & Harriet Scott
- Life Story -
Early Life
“A man is a man, until that man
finds a plan, a plan that makes
that man, a new man.”
Dred Scott was born a slave around 1799 in Southampton
County, Virginia. Harriet Robinson was born a slave around
1820 in Virginia. Dred’s master took him and his other slaves
to Alabama in an attempt to develop a farming business, but
they were unsuccessful. Eventually Dred was sold to Dr. John
Emerson in St. Louis. Emerson was a surgeon in the U.S. Army
and traveled frequently. Due to conflicts with Emerson, Dred
attempted to run away, but he was captured and returned.
U.S. Indian Agent, Lawrence Taliaferro, owned Harriet. Both
were brought to Fort Snelling in Minnesota in 1837. The U.S.
Army was in support of slavery there and paid a supplement
to employ servants (this included enslaved people). Dred and
Harriet met at Fort Snelling, and they were informally married.
Taliaferro transferred ownership of Harriet to Emerson.
Personality & Characteristics
Dred and Harriet were both strong and hardworking people. Dred and Harriet worked hard to
provide for their family. They were not afraid of the risks and dangers that came with fighting for
their freedom. Despite many setbacks, the Scotts were determined to secure freedom for
themselves and their children.
Life Story
During the 1830’s and 1840’s, the pre-statehood community
in Minnesota included free and enslaved black people. There
were also a large number of white army personnel and fur
traders. The majority of the population resided in Dakota
and Ojibwe. Since there was diversity and no cash-crop
economy, the race dynamics were more fluid than in other
areas in the United States. Enslaved people were known to
be independent and could earn income in these areas.
Fort Snelling today
Dred and Harriet Scott earned independent incomes despite still being owned as property. Dred
and Harriet married, lived together and formed a family. When the army reassigned Emerson to
the South, the Scotts moved with him. They lived at Fort Jesup in Louisiana. In 1838, they returned
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to Fort Snelling via St. Louis. Their first daughter, Eliza, was born during
this trip. Their second daughter, Lizzie, was born around 1846.
Although Eliza was born within a free territory, Lizzie was not.
Front page of Frank
Leslie's Illustrated
Newspaper, June 27,
1857.
Emerson died in 1843 and his widow Irene Sanford assumed ownership
of the Scotts. She rejected all of Dred’s attempts to buy freedom for
himself and his family. This left Dred and Harriet terrified that their
family would be sold and separated, which was a common practice at
the time. The Scotts were inspired to sue for their freedom by the
Missouri case in 1836, which involved the decision to free a woman
named Rachel based on the fact that she lived at Fort Snelling.
Dred and Harriet received support by abolitionists to pursue their case.
They first brought suits against Sanford in a Minnesota court in 1846 and 1847. They then filed in
federal court in 1853 while trying to keep their daughters and themselves safe from the
repercussions of filing the suits. In Scott v. Sanford, the Court decided that African Americans,
enslaved and free, were not citizens. Chief Justice Roger B. Taney handed down the U.S. Supreme
Court’s decision in 1857. Since the Supreme Court did not consider the Scotts citizens, they had no
right to sue. It also further ruled that slave owners could take their “property” anywhere they
chose.
Late Life
Taylor Blow was a previous owner of Dred Scott. He
helped the Scotts fund their legal cases. He
purchased the Scott family and set them free in
1857. Dred began to work as a porter in a St. Louis
hotel, but he passed away in 1858 from tuberculosis.
Harriet and her daughters stayed in St. Louis. She
worked as a laundress until she passed away in 1876.
Legacy
“They [the blacks] had no rights which the
white man was bound to respect.” - Roger
Taney, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Dred and Harriet Scott’s pursuit of freedom played a
vital part in bringing about the Civil War. Their case shined a light on the fact that America claimed
to be a “free” country while it had people living there that were considered “property” and noncitizens. While Chief Justice Roger B. Taney wanted to settle issues related to slavery and
Congressional authority with his ruling, he only aroused public anger towards the treatment of
African-Americans. This decision contributed to the conflicts already being inflamed by the KansasNebraska Act and the Fugitive Slave Law, and the ruling completely nullified the Missouri
Compromise and the Northwest Ordinance. As a result, it helped to elect Abraham Lincoln in 1860
and strengthened the anti-slavery Republican Party. Dred and Harriet became symbols of African
Americans’ fight toward becoming recognized as citizens and obtaining their freedom.
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Reflection Questions
Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
1.
Dred and Harriet Scott exhibited resilience throughout their life. What part of their lives do
you think shows the most resilience? Explain why you think this.
2.
Dred and Harriet Scott went to extreme lengths to ensure that their children would not be
taken away from them. How far would you be willing to go if you were in their situation? Is it
worth risking your life?
3.
The Dred Scott decision is considered a significant event on the road to ending slavery and
attaining civil rights. The decision was made around 160 years ago. Do you think there are
elements of this struggle in America that still linger today? If so, what can be done to
improve this?
4.
If you had an opportunity to meet Dred and Harriet Scott, what would you want to say to
them? What would you like to ask?
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Dred & Harriet Scott
- Life Story -
Early Life
“A man is a man, until that man
finds a plan, a plan that makes
that man, a new man.”
Dred Scott was born a slave around 1799 in
Southampton County, Virginia. Harriet Robinson was
born a slave around 1820 in Virginia. Dred’s master
took him to Alabama with his other slaves. He tried
to start a farming business but failed. Later, Dred
was sold to Dr. John Emerson in St. Louis. Emerson
was a doctor in the U.S. Army. Dred tried to run away
from Emerson but was caught and returned. Harriet
was owned by a U.S. Indian Agent named Lawrence
Taliaferro. Both Harriet and Dred were brought to
Fort Snelling in Minnesota in 1837. They met and
were married. Taliaferro made Emerson Harriet’s new
owner.
Personality & Characteristics
Dred and Harriet were both strong people who worked hard to provide for their
family. They weren’t afraid of the dangers of fighting for their freedom. They were
very focused on freeing themselves and their children.
Life Story
During the 1830’s and 1840’s, Minnesota hadn’t become
a state yet. Black and white people got along better
there than in other parts of the country. Slaves could
even earn money there and be independent.
Fort Snelling today
Dred and Harriet Scott earned money living in Minnesota, but they were still owned
as property. Dred and Harriet lived together and started a family. When the army
sent Emerson to the South, the Scotts moved with him. They lived at Fort Jesup in
Louisiana. In 1838, they went back to Fort Snelling. Their first daughter, Eliza, was
born during this trip. Their second daughter, Lizzie, was born around 1846.
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Emerson died in 1843 and his wife, Irene Sanford,
became the owner of the Scotts. Dred tried to buy
freedom for himself and his family, but she said no.
Dred and Harriet were scared that their family
would be sold and split up. There was a court case
where a woman gained her freedom and this
inspired them. They filed a lawsuit to try to gain
freedom for their family too.
The Dreds brought lawsuits against Sanford in a
Minnesota court in 1846 and 1847. They then filed a
Front page of Frank Leslie's
lawsuit in federal court in 1853. In Scott v. Sanford
Illustrated Newspaper, June 27,
in 1857, the Supreme Court decided that African
1857.
Americans, enslaved and free, were not citizens.
Since the Supreme Court didn’t see the Scotts as citizens, they had no right to sue.
The court also ruled that slave owners could take their “property” anywhere they
chose.
Late Life
Taylor Blow was a previous owner of
Dred Scott. He helped the Scotts
pay for their legal cases. He bought
the Scott family and set them free in
1857. Dred passed away in 1858.
Harriet and her daughters stayed in
St. Louis. Harriet died in 1876.
Legacy
“They [the blacks] had no rights which the white man
was bound to respect.” - Roger Taney, Chief Justice of
the Supreme Court
Dred and Harriet Scott’s push for
freedom helped start the Civil War.
Their case made people see how unfairly black people were treated. The court’s
decision caused a lot of anger and conflict. This helped to elect Abraham Lincoln in
1860 and made the anti-slavery Republican Party stronger. Dred and Harriet became
symbols of African Americans’ fight for freedom and equal rights.
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Reflection Questions
Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
1.
Dred and Harriet Scott showed resilience. This means that they kept going
even when things were tough. Describe a time that you think they showed
resilience.
2.
How do you think that having children made Dred and Harriet Scott push for
freedom even more?
3.
The Dred Scott decision was made around 160 years ago. Do you think there
are still problems with black and white people being seen as equals in
America? Explain your answer.
4.
If you could meet Dred and Harriet Scott, what would you say to them? What
would you ask?
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Dred & Harriet Scott
- Life Story -
Dred Scott was born as a slave around
1799 in Virginia. Harriet Robinson was
born as a slave around 1820 in Virginia.
They met each other in 1837 in
Minnesota and got married. They had
two children, but they still weren’t free.
They were owned by a doctor in the U.S.
Army.
Harriet and Dred were both brave,
strong, and hardworking people. They
wanted to fight for the freedom of their
family. Dred tried to run away, and they even tried to pay for their
freedom. None of this worked.
“A man is a man, until that
man finds a plan, a plan that
makes that man, a new man.”
In the end they decided to sue their owner to win their freedom
in court. This didn’t work as the
Supreme Court said AfricanAmericans were not citizens.
However, it showed how unfairly
slaves were treated.
The Scotts were later set free.
Their court case helped start the
Civil War.
“They [the blacks] had no rights which the
white man was bound to respect.” - Roger
Taney, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
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Reflection Questions
Answer the questions in sentences.
1.
Why did Dred and Harriet Scott go to court?
2.
What important historical event did they help to start?
3.
Imagine you could meet Dred and Harriet Scott. What would
you ask them?
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