Dred Scott v. Sandford: A Brief History with Documents (Bedford Series in History & Culture) [Paperback]

Paul Finkelman (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0312115946 | ISBN-13: 978-0312115944 | Publication Date: March 15, 1997 | Edition: First Edition

Perhaps no other Supreme Court decision has had the political impact of Dred Scott v. Sandford. Using a variety of documents that reflect regional opinions and political debates, Paul Finkelman examines the 1857 decision that helped set in motion the events that eventually led to a new birth of freedom and the abolition of slavery in the United States.

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About the Author

Paul Finkelman is the author of An Imperfect Union: Slavery, Federalism, and Comity (1981); Slavery in the Courtroom (1985), which received the Joseph L. Andrews Award from the American Association of Law Libraries; and His Soul Goes Marching On: Responses to John Brown and the Harpers Ferry Raid (1995), which was a History Book Club selection. He has published numerous articles on American legal history and race relations and lectures frequently on the role of race in American legal development. In 1995, he was designated Virginia Historian of the Year by the Virginia Social Science Association.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Bedford/St. Martin's; First Edition edition (March 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312115946
• ISBN-13: 978-0312115944
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,102 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #97 in Books > Law > Constitutional Law

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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Presentation, July 9, 2005

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Flazatty "flazatty" (Scottsdale, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Dred Scott v. Sandford: A Brief History with Documents (Bedford Series in History & Culture) (Paperback)

As students of U.S. history know, the Supreme Court decision in the Dred Scott case was one of the major causes leading up to the Civil War. Prof. Finkelman has provided a valuable educational tool that will help students understanding this important part of our history. His clear and concise explanation of the case, including an analysis of the majority opinion, concurring opinions, and dissenting opinions, and other relevant aspects, is well-researched and well-written. He also includes excerpts from the Supreme Court's opinion so that readers can examine it and draw their own conclusions. Any serious student of U.S. history, particularly of the Civil War period and the events leading up to it, should own a copy of this book.