Life was precarious for free and enslaved African Americans, as demonstrated by the tragic Dred Scott decision. The Supreme Court case not only denied an enslaved man's petition for freedom, but also claimed that African Americans—free or enslaved—had no rights in antebellum America. The ruling became a stain on America's history and a precursor to the coming Civil War.

Concepts

dred scott, constitutional rights, citizenship, constitutional amendments, slavery, causes of the civil war, civil war

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Use the video to introduce the Supreme Court decision to young scholars
• Offer as research for a timeline of events leading up to the Civil War

Classroom Considerations

• One installment of a series explaining the Constitution
  

Pros

• Video is short and concise, making it adaptable to a variety of classroom uses
• Engaging narrator and images of primary sources stimulate learners' interests

Cons

• None

Common Core

RH.6-8.1 RH.6-8.2 RH.6-8.10 RH.9-10.1 RH.9-10.2 RH.9-10.10 RH.11-12.1 RH.11-12.2 RH.11-12.10