Slavery, Law, and Politics: The Dred Scott Case in Historical Perspective (Galaxy Books)

The writing is academic but the story told by Fehrenbacher fulfilled my wish to more about the Dred Scott decision. If you are interested in the detail you will get your fill. I enjoyed it.

Superb, well focused and authoritatively documented. A good text for senior high school and college students, even beneficial for Constitutional Law ancillary reading in law school.

Scholarly, more for advanced constitutional law or political science types. Dred Scott doesn't say two words and is described not much more than being "small, pleasant-looking." Precedent arguments to include the Declartion of Independence, the Constitution . . . going all the way back to the Magna Carta.Dred Scott loses, but this case becomes more about the "power of congress to prohibit slavery in the territories." It gets very complicated, leaving the overall impression that this was an historic low point for the Supreme Court."It may fairly be said that Chief Justice Taney elected Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency." - Charles Warren, Supreme Court historianI enjoyed the evolution of the Supreme Court which now is considered by some the only legislative body: "Beyond comparison the weakest of the three departments of power." - Alexander Hamilton.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Articles of Confederation "Thirteen separate, sovereign, independent States which had entered into a league or confederation for their mutual protection and advantage.""Unless the master becomes an inhabitant of that State, the slaves he takes there do not acquire their freedom."Explanations explanatory of explanations explained." - Lincoln~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~This book tells me that pre-MLK black history has been overly neglected in textbooks. After the American Revolution and the Civil War, I'd put "Brown vs the Board of Education" and next the Dred Scott Decision.

Puts it into context of the times, the actors and greater political situation. Excellent reading for anyone interested in the period.Only 4 stars, because 5 stars goes to the Gettysburg address.