Question

Read the passage from the opinion of the court in Dred Scott v. Sandford, written by Justice Taney.

The question before us is, whether the class of persons described in the plea in abatement compose a portion of this people, and are constituent members of this sovereignty? We think they are not, and that they are not included, and were not intended to be included, under the word "citizens" in the Constitution, and can therefore claim none of the rights and privileges which that instrument provides for and secures to citizens of the United States. On the contrary, they were at that time considered as a subordinate and inferior class of beings, who had been subjugated by the dominant race, and, whether emancipated or not, yet remained subject to their authority, and had no rights or privileges but such as those who held the power and the Government might choose to grant them.

Which statement best serves as a counterclaim to the claim in this passage?

A) Taney fails to provide any actual evidence for his statements that African Americans were universally considered inferior.
B) Taney cannot use states’ rights to claim that the plaintiff is not a citizen, because citizenship is federal.
C) Taney’s argument that emancipated people were still controlled by whites is false because they were free.

Answer 1

A) Taney fails to provide any actual evidence for his statements that African Americans were universally considered inferior.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this passage, Justice Taney explains the reasons why he believes that citizenship is not meant to apply to Black people. However, his main claim is that citizenship was not meant to apply to them because, at the time the Constitution was written, Black people were considered to be universally inferior to white people. However, Justice Taney does not provide evidence for this, except for his own opinion.

Answer 2

The correct answer is A) Taney fails to provide any actual evidence for his statements that African Americans were universally considered inferior.

Indeed, during the American Revolution, there were black spies and soldiers who fought in the American side and were emancipated as recompense. 9000 blacks were part of the Continental army and actually fought longer than many white soldiers. There were several free blacks in northern states and several of the Founding Fathers loathed slavery, even Jefferson, who owned slaves disliked the institution.

Therefore, Justice Taney’s reasoning is based on a false premise since the views of white Americans on blacks during the Revolutionary war were highly divided and divergent.