Reference no: EM133723677
Problem
I. Majority Opinion (Justice Taney)
A. How does Taney rule on the question of Dred Scott's status as a citizen of the United States? What reasoning does he use to support his ruling?
B. How does he rule on the question of whether the U.S. government has the power to ban slavery in the territories (as it did when it enacted Missouri Compromise)? What part of the Constitution does he use to support his ruling? What fundamental right is identified in that part of the Constitution?
C. How does he rule on the question of whether Scott's status as a slave was forever changed by being taken into the state of Illinois?
II. Dissenting Opinion (Justice Curtis)
A. What reasoning does Curtis use to defend his contention that "free persons, descended from Africans" are citizens of the United States?
B. What right did at least some blacks have in 1787 that would, according to Curtis, make them included in the phrase "people of the United States"?
III. Dissenting Opinion (Justice McLean)
A. What reasoning does McLean use argue that the United States Government has the right to make laws for the territories as it did in the Missouri Compromise?
B. What reasoning does Mclean use to contend that Scott's status as a slave cannot be maintained outside of a state where slavery is legal?