The Dred Scott Case: Relationship Between Northern And Southern States

During the year of 1857 the Dred Scott case was investigated through the Supreme Court of the United States. The relationship between the North and South became chaotic. The North understood the necessity of slavery for the Southern states because of the circumstances involving farming, acres of land, and beliefs; however, the North did not have the same need. The Supreme Court's ruling of African Americans denied them U.S. citizenship as well as the right of freedom because of their classification as slaves. This particular case was assumed to be the cause of the Civil War. African Americans during this time period were treated unethically by the superior white male and forced into slavery oftentimes resulting in their untimely deaths. Dred

The North understood why the South would practice slavery considering the field work needed including cotton, soybeans, and tobacco; however, slavery was no excuse for the cruelty, sexual assault, poor hygiene, poor catering and attention, and lack of nutrition. The white males did not view African Americans as humans just as much as they did not view them as U.S. citizens. The North respected the South's reasoning for allowing slavery as long as they did not migrate towards the North. The Northerners, learning of Scott's case, felt the South wanted to start war because their states prohibited slavery. The Dred Scott case was supported by the Northern states explaining the significance and importance that everyone should be treated equally. The reaction from the Southern states was not supportive of Scott's request nor did they agree with the case. The South felt that their states were being belittled because they believed in slavery. The North and South were already divided due to differing views on the case but when the Supreme Court finally made their decision it caused more problems, “When the Supreme Court finally issued their decision in the case of Scott v. Sandford on March 6, 1857, the resulting effect seemed to have been increased tension between the North and South. The outcry over the Dred Scott decision spurred Northerners to overwhelmingly vote Republican, to represent their stance against slavery, by electing Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States in 1860. This created an issue for America worse than the sectional crisis. Lincoln's election spurred Southern states to one by one secede from the Union, and ultimately, it was this intensified sectional conflict that caused the Union in the North and the Confederate states in the South to descend into Civil War, which ravaged the country from 1861 until 1865” (Paul Finkelman). The Dred Scott case has