Judge Taney, The defendant is not guilty. It is therefore ordered that Dred Scott and his family be kept as slaves.
* On March 6, 1857, Chief Justice Roger Taney read the "Opinion of the Court."
* Essentially, since the Scotts were slaves, they were not citizens, and could not sue for their freedom in court.
* The justices also ruled that the ban on slavery in the 1820 Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional.
* Slave owners could not be deprived of their “property,” and the recently acquired western territories would have to allow slave owners within their borders--thus allowing slavery.
* On March 6, 1857, Chief Justice Roger Taney read the "Opinion of the Court."
* Essentially, since the Scotts were slaves, they were not citizens, and could not sue for their freedom in court.
* The justices also ruled that the ban on slavery in the 1820 Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional.
* Slave owners could not be deprived of their “property,” and the recently acquired western territories would have to allow slave owners within their borders--thus allowing slavery.