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Missouri Digital Heritage :: Education :: Before Dred Scott

Missouri State Archives
Before Dred Scott:
Freedom Suits in Antebellum Missouri

An interactive lesson plan with original documents

Lesson Plan:

• Lesson Overview, Objectives, and Procedures
  
  
• Glossary of Terms
  
  
• Antebellum Missouri
  
  
• History of Slave Freedom Suits in Missouri
  • 1807 Missouri Territorial Statute
  • 1824 Missouri Law

The Freedom Suits:

• Rachel v. William Walker (1836)
  • Petition for freedom (and transcription)
  • Enrichment worksheets
    
    
• Ralph v. Coleman Duncan (1833)
  • Petition for freedom (and transcription)
  • Charge of Trespass of False Imprisonment (and transcription)
  • Enrichment worksheets
    
    
• Let's Talk: Guided Discussion Questions

For Educators:

• Rationales
  • Missouri's Framework for Curriculum Development in Social Studies for MAP Testing
  • The "Show-Me Standards" and Before Dred Scott
    
    
• Resources
  • Annotated Bibliography
  • Sites of Interest