American Centuries

Pocumtuck Valley
Memorial Association

American Centuries > Lessons > History Lessons By Teachers > Comparison: Dred Scott Articles

Comparison: Dred Scott Articles

Details

Author
Jeff Bouyea
Topic/Subject Area
Slavery, Indenture; Politics, Government, Law, Civics
Historical Era
National Expansion and Reform, 1816–1860, Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861–1877
Grade Level
High School (9–12)
Creation Date
2010
Last Revision Date
2024

Related items

About This Lesson

Summary and Objective

Students will understand that different economic and cultural issues of the nation created sectional conflicts between the North and South. Students will summarize the impact of the Dred Scott case on sectional politics and its role in leading toward the Civil War.

Materials & Resources

Collection Items

Teaching Plan

  1. Students will begin class with a warm-up question: “Describe how the economies of the North and South were different leading up to the Civil War.”
  2. After a few minutes, review and discuss answers with the entire class.
  3. Divide students into groups of four. Ask half the class to view the Franklin Democrat article; ask the other half to view the Greenfield Gazette article..
  4. In groups, students will read the articles, summarize the Supreme Court’s decision, and discuss if the author of their article shows any opinion on the decision.
  5. After regrouping with the entire class, students will explain their findings and discuss any differences they noted on opinions by the author.
  6. The class as will discuss how sectionalism and antebellum politics created different opinions on slavery and the findings in the Dred Scott case.