Which statement best serves as a counterclaim to the argument …

History Questions
Short Answer
Step by Step Solution
History Questions

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? Taney fails to provide any actual evidence for his statements that Black people were universally considered inferior. Taney cannot use states√¢¬Ä¬ô rights to claim that the plaintiff is not a citizen, because citizenship is federal. Taney√¢¬Ä¬ôs argument that emancipated people were still controlled by White people is false because they were free. Taney√¢¬Ä¬ôs argument that Blacks were not citizens is fals

Short Answer

The passage analyzes the Dred Scott v. Sandford case, focusing on Justice Taney’s claim of Black people’s inferiority and the historical context of slavery and citizenship. It emphasizes the importance of a counterclaim that highlights the absence of evidence for Taney’s assertions, challenging their validity and social implications.

Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1: Understand the Context

The passage pertains to the Dred Scott v. Sandford case, a significant legal case in U.S. history. This case addressed crucial issues regarding slavery and the citizenship status of African Americans. Recognizing this context is essential to grasp the implications of the court’s opinion and its historical significance.

Step 2: Identify the Main Claim

The main claim in the passage comes from Justice Taney, who asserts the inferiority of Black people. Understanding this claim is vital as it sets the stage for evaluating its validity. It is important to note how such claims shaped societal attitudes towards race and equality during that period.

Step 3: Formulate a Counterclaim

A strong counterclaim to Taney’s assertion is that there is a complete lack of evidence supporting his claim of Black people’s inferiority. This counterclaim emphasizes the need for substantiated evidence in legal opinions, especially those that have significant social implications. By highlighting this lack, it challenges the legitimacy of Taney’s arguments.

Related Concepts

Dred Scott V. Sandford

A landmark supreme court case in 1857 that determined that african americans could not be american citizens and that congress had no authority to regulate slavery in the territories.

Inferiority

A term used in the context of the case, referring to the belief held by some that black people were lesser or of lower status compared to whites, impacting societal perspectives on race.

Evidence

Information or data that supports or contradicts a claim; in the context of the case, it refers to the lack of empirical support for claims regarding the supposed inferiority of black individuals.

Table Of Contents
  1. 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? Taney fails to provide any actual evidence for his statements that Black people were universally considered inferior. Taney cannot use states’ rights to claim that the plaintiff is not a citizen, because citizenship is federal. Taney’s argument that emancipated people were still controlled by White people is false because they were free. Taney’s argument that Blacks were not citizens is fals

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