The Dred Scott Decision (Famous Trials)

Gr 6-9--Dred Scott was a slave who sued for his freedom, citing the fact that his travel to free states with his owner made him a free man. The courts not only disagreed with this statement, but stated that blacks were not citizens and therefore could not sue in federal court. One of the many far-reaching results of this decision was the Civil War. Consequently, the case is considered one of the most important decisions of the Supreme Court. Lukes does an adequate job of explaining the various legal manipulations involved in the case. However, Scott himself remains a mysterious historical figure rather than a real person. The result is a dry, factual book suitable for reports. Average-quality, black-and-white reproductions accompany the text. Much of the same material is covered with the same level of readability in D. J. Herda's The Dred Scott Case (Enslow, 1994), so libraries that own that title may want to pass on this one unless more sources are desperately needed.

Melissa Hudak, North Suburban District Library, Roscoe, IL

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