Getting out of slavery in the US was very difficult prior to the Civil War (war between citizens of the same country).. Dred Scott attempted this by going to court and suing for his freedom. The final decision of the Supreme Court shocked America. Scott had lived in Missouri with his master, John Emerson, a doctor from the army. The doctor ended up moving to Illinois, a free state, and then the Wisconsin Territory where slavery was banned due to the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. The family later moved all the way back to Missouri where Emerson lost his life. This is where Scott had help from antislavery lawyers who helped him sue for his freedom. When he arrived to the Supreme Court in 1850, the trial began. At first, Scott was told he was
