Dred Scott's Argumentative Analysis

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During Dred Scott vs. Sanford (1856), Chief Justice Taney stated that “The words “people of the United States” and “citizens” are synonymous terms” and “The question before us is, whether the [people of African ancestry] compose a portion of this people.” He answered his own question with “We think they are not, and that they are not included, and were not intended to be included, under the word “citizens” in the Constitution.” In 1787, the Constitution was written. “We the People” at the time were elite white males. It didn’t include colored, Natives, women, or impoverished people. This changed though after the Civil War with the 13th (1865), 14th(1868), and 15th (1870) amendment. The 13th freed the slaves, the 14th gave citizenship to