Curricular Resources > 2004 Volume I > Unit 2 (04.01.02) > Section 4

The Supreme Court in American Political History

CONTENTS OF CURRICULUM UNIT 04.01.02

Unit Guide

The Supreme Court and American Society: The Dred Scott Case

John Buell

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Resources

Those items marked with an asterisk will be especially useful for students.

Bibliography

Burt, Robert A., The Constitution in Conflict, (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1992)

Traces the history of the Supreme Court and its relationship with the Constitution and articulates how the Court can best handle politically divisive issues.

*Finkelman, Paul, Dred Scott v. Sandford: A Brief History with Documents, (Boston: Bedford Books, 1997)

An excellent concise book with everything a teacher will need to teach this unit: an overview of the case and excerpts of all relevant documents

Fehrenbacher, Don E., The Dred Scott Case: Its Significance in American Law and Politics, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1977)

The definitive history of the case and its implications. Especially useful for its detail on the historical factors leading up to Dred Scott.

Internet Sites

*Founders Library, Homecoming Speech at Chicago, Stephen A. Douglas, 7/20/04

http://www.founding.com/library/lbody.cfm?id=340&parent=65>

Text of the speech Douglas gave in response to the “House Divided” speech.

*Furman University, Secession Era Editorials Project, 7/20/04, http://history.furman.edu/~benson/docs/dsmenu.htm>

A resource for editorials from a variety of newspapers on the Dred Scott Decision

*Lewis, Wendy Bay, Civicmind.com, “Hot Points > Bush v. Gore,” 7/20/04,

http://www.civicmind.com/bushsct.htm>

Includes excerpts of the of the rulings and dissents on Bush v. Gore.

*NPR, The Tavis Smiley Show audio, “Supreme Court ‘Bush vs. Gore’ Anniversary,”

http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=1543944>

An audio clip of a discussion on Bush v. Gore that provides competing perspectives on the case.

*PBS, Africans in America, 5/18/04, http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4h2934t.html>

Companion web site to the four-part series of that name. This url will go directly to the “House Divided” speech.

*Street Law and the Supreme Court Historical Society, Landmark Cases: Supreme Court, 7/15/04, http://www.landmarkcases.org>

Excellent resource for teachers on Dred Scott and many other court cases. Includes readings and lesson plans.

*University of Virginia, Electronic Text Center, 6/17/04, http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/modeng/modengJ.browse.html>

This site contains a wealth of Jefferson’s writings including Notes on the State of Virginia.

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