Question

What was a legal precedent in Missouri regarding slaves who had lived in a free state? Missouri courts had never set other slaves free after they’d lived in free states.
Missouri courts had set other slaves free after they’d lived in slave states.


Missouri courts had set other slaves free after they’d lived in free states.

Answer 1

Answer:

Option C:  Missouri courts had set other slaves free after they’d lived in free states.

Explanation:

“Dred Scott” had filed a 'freedom suit' in “St. Louis Circuit Court” in 1846 after he was not able to achieve freedom. Missouri precedent, in 1824, said that slaves who have been freed in a free state because of being prolonged residents, would remain free when returned back to “Missouri”. The doctrine was known as "Once free, always free". This means that if the slave got 'freedom' in a free state, then that freedom could be approved by the court after the person returns to a slave state.

Then in 1865, an ordinance was approved which had put an end to slavery in Missouri.