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

August 22, 1831: Nat Turner Leads Slave Rebellion

Today is the 180th anniversary of the rebellion led by Nat Turner in Southampton, Virginia. Nat Turner, a slave himself, led the revolt which killed about sixty white people. With the suppression of the revolt, 100 African Americans died. Authorities would later hang 16 more.

For more information, check out these resources...

Nat Turner Slave Insurrection, American Memory, Library of Congress

The Confessions of Nat Turner, Leader of the Late Insurrection in Southampton, VA., American Memory, Library of Congress

Nat Turner's Rebellion: To Rebel and Make Insurrection, The Library of Virginia

DocumentsRelated to Nat Turner's Rebellion, The Library of Virginia



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