The Dred Scott Case is one that helped to change history as we know it. Dred Scott was a slave in the United States who sued unsuccessfully in St. Louis, Missouri for his freedom. Nobody knows the exact day that Scott was born, but he was born in Southampton County, Virginia around 1779. Scott was sold to John Emerson by his former master Peter Blow. John Emerson was a surgeon serving in the United States Army. Scott traveled with Emerson, who was in the army and often transferred. Scott's extended stay with his master in Illinois, a free state by the Missouri Compromise of 1820, gave him the legal standing to make a claim for freedom, as did his extended stay at Fort Snelling in the Wisconsin Territory, where he met his wife Harriet Robinson, who was also an slave. However, Scott never made the claim while living in the free lands; it may have been because he was not made aware of his rights, or because he was fearful of possible repercussions. After two years, the army transferred Emerson to the South: first to St. Louis, Missouri, then to Louisiana. In 1842 the recently married Emerson summoned his slave couple. Instead of staying in the free territory of Wisconsin, or going to the free state of Illinois, the two traveled unaccompanied, down the Mississippi River to meet their master. Only after Emerson's death in 1843, when Emerson's widow started hiring out Scott and his family, did Scott seek freedom for himself and his wife. There is speculation that Scott wanted his freedom now because he was tired of being hired out or she (Mrs. Emerson) was about to sell him or influence from his friends and family. Whatever the reason, Scott offered to buy his freedom from Emerson's widow, Irene Emerson, then living in St. Louis, for $300. The offer was refused, leaving Scott to seek freedom through the courts. Dred Scott first went to trial to sue for his freedom in 1847. His petition was denied due to the belief that slaves were considered property just like a...