March 6, 1857: The Supreme Court of the United States rules in the Dred Scott v. Sandford case

Today is the 155th anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford. The decision, delivered by Chief Justice Roger Taney, declared that slaves were not citizens of the U.S. and, therefore, could not sue in Federal courts. The decision also declared the Missouri Compromise to be unconstitutional, stating that Congress did not have the authority to prohibit slavery in the territories. This decision was overturned by the 13th and 14th Amendments to the Constitution.

For more information, check out these resources...

Primary Documents in American History: Dred Scott v. Sandford, Library of Congress

Missouri's Dred Scott Case, 1846-1857, Missouri State Archives

Transcript of Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857), Our Documents

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857), Our Documents



Sonnet Ireland
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Urban and Transportation Studies, Engineering

June 25, 1976: Extermination Order is rescinded by Missouri Governor Kit Bond

Today marks the 35th anniversary of the rescindment of the Extermination Order. On October 27, 1838, Missouri Governor Boggs put a Mormon Extermination Order into effect. It would take 138 years for that order to be rescinded by Governor Kit Bond. For more information on this event in history, check out these resources...

The Missouri Mormon War, Missouri State Archives

Governor Boggs' Extermination Order, Missouri State Archives

Governor Bond's Rescission Order, Missouri State Archives

Missouri's 1838 Extermination Order and the Mormons' Forced Removal to Illinois by William G. Hartley, Mormon Historic Sites Foundation

Document Containing the Orders, Correspondence, etc. in relation to the Disturbances with the Mormons, Missouri State Archives

Records of the Missouri Mormon War, Missouri State Archives


Sonnet Ireland
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Urban Studies, Engineering