LAD #18 - Dred Scott Decision

Dred Scott, the child of immigrants to the United States,  went to court against Sanford because he felt that his rights were being violated. Under the Constitution , Scott, felt that he should have the same rights as other men. However, since his parents were immigrants and did not have rights, Scott too was not a citizen and therefore could not obtain equal protection under the law. At the time, Roger B. Taney was the Justice of the Court.  He ruled that slaves were no different than property and therefore, Scott’s rights were not being violated. In the Scott vs. Sanford case, Sanford, a white landowner, won because under the constitution he had the right to keep his property (his land and his slaves a.k.a. Scott). Taney also declared the Missouri Compermise unconstitutional at this time.