Dred Scott: A Cartoon for Kids About Black History

Dred Scott: A Cartoon for Kids About Black History

Dred Scott was a slave who lived in the United States in the 1800s. He was born into slavery in Virginia, but he later moved to Missouri with his owner. In Missouri, Scott lived in a free state for several years. He believed that because he had lived in a free state, he should be free. He sued for his freedom in court, but he lost.

The Dred Scott case was a very important case in American history. It was the first time that the Supreme Court ruled on the issue of slavery. The court’s decision was that slaves were not citizens and could not sue in court. This decision made it even harder for slaves to fight for their freedom.

The Dred Scott case also had a big impact on the fight against slavery. It made it clear that the South was determined to protect slavery, and it helped to lead to the Civil War.

Here is a simplified explanation of the Dred Scott case for kids:

Imagine you are a dog. You live with your owner in a house. One day, your owner moves to a different house. This house is in a different neighborhood where dogs are allowed to run free. You live in this new house for a while, and you start to think that you should be allowed to run free, just like the other dogs in the neighborhood. But your owner says no, you are still his dog and you have to stay in the house.

Dred Scott was like the dog. He lived with his owner in a place where slavery was allowed. Then he moved with his owner to a place where slavery was not allowed. He thought that because he had lived in a place where slavery was not allowed, he should be free. But his owner said no, he was still a slave.

The Dred Scott case was like a big argument between the dog and his owner. The judge had to decide who was right. The judge decided that the owner was right, and Dred Scott stayed a slave.

This was a very sad story for Dred Scott, but it was also a very important story for America. It helped to show how much people disagreed about slavery, and it helped to lead to the Civil War.

Here are some fun facts about Dred Scott:

• Dred Scott was a real person. He was born in 1799 and died in 1858.
• Dred Scott was a slave for his entire life.
• Dred Scott’s case was one of the most important cases in American history.

Here are some questions to think about:

• What do you think about the Dred Scott case?
• Do you think Dred Scott should have been free?
• What do you think about slavery?

This cartoon for kids tells the story of Dred Scott, a slave who sued for his freedom. The cartoon is a great educational resource for elementary school students and provides a simplified introduction to the complex topic of slavery and the fight for freedom in American history.