Having served his master in northern states, under the provisions of the Missouri compromise the slave Dred Scott may be eligible for emancipation, but legal obstacles stand in the way of his freedom.

Relates the background of the Dred Scott case, describes the roles of the principal individuals involved, and discusses the immediate and far reaching effects of this controversial Supreme Court decision.

Describes the landmark Supreme Court case of Dred Scott, a slave who sued for his freedom, and includes the events leading up to the case, the Supreme Court's ruling, and how it affected future cases and the history of the United States.