Predictions on the Dred Scott decison

Before the Supreme Court announces a decision in important cases, newspapers often try to predict the verdict. This also occurred in the 19th Century and some history students might be interested to see what editors said before the Dred Scott decision was announced after President James Buchanan’s inauguration in March 1857. Two months earlier the Washington Union explained that the Supreme Court had already reached “a decision” that held “the law of 1820 to be unconstitutional.” In addition, the article also accurately noted that northern Justice Robert Grier would approve such a verdict. Some students might be interested to see how the Washington Union’s prediction compared to the Supreme Court’s actual decision.