Any Quote by Roger B. Taney
“What Dred Scott's master might lawfully do with Dred Scott, in the free state of Illinois, every other master may lawfully do with any other one, or 1,000 slaves, in Illinois, or in any other free state.”
About This Quote
Source Supreme Court Opinion: Dred Scott v. Sandford, 1857
The decision claimed that slaves could not become citizens, limiting their rights even in free states.
In simple terms: Slaves had no legal rights in free states.
Key Takeaway
Recognize historical injustices.
Themes
justice
civil rights
law
Mood
somber
historical
Type
legal
political
When to use this quote
- education
- legal reform
- civil rights activism
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
slavery
citizenship
legal precedent
Questions to Reflect On
- How did this decision shape the Civil War?
- What legal principles protect rights today?
A Different Perspective
The ruling ignored moral arguments and human dignity.
![“In one point of view, we, the abolitionists and colored people, should meet [the Dred Scott] decision, unlooked for and monstrous as it appears, in a cheerful spirit. This very attempt to blot out forever the hopes of an enslaved people may be one necessary link in the chain of events preparatory…” quote by Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/33c/frederick-douglass-859_abolitionist_in-one-point-of-view-we-the-abolitionist_2046976.jpg)
