Question

read the passage from the opinion of the court in dred scott v. sandford, written by justice taney. it will be observed, that the plea applies to that class of persons only whose ancestors were negroes of the african race, and imported into this country, and sold and held as slaves. the only matter in issue before the court, therefore, is, whether the descendants of such slaves, when they shall be emancipated, or who are born of parents who had become free before their birth, are citizens of a state, in the sense in which the word “citizen” is used in the constitution of the united states. 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, in the character of citizens. which statement best describes an effective counterclaim to the claim in this passage? ∘ because dred scott’s parents were born outside the united states, he is not considered to be a citizen with all the rights granted by the constitution. ∘ because dred scott was the child of enslaved people, he is considered to be of a different class than citizens, according to the constitution. ∘ because dred scott and his family were born in the united states, they are citizens with all the rights granted by the constitution. ∘ because dred scott lives in a free state, he is considered to be a citizen with all the rights granted by the constitution.

Explanation:

The passage states that the claim applies to people whose ancestors were enslaved Africans imported into the US, and asks if emancipated or free-born descendants of this group are US citizens as defined by the Constitution. It concludes they are not and were never intended to be included. This matches the argument that Dred Scott, as part of this enslaved class, is a different class from citizens under the Constitution.

Answer:

Because Dred Scott was the child of enslaved people, he is considered to be of a different class than citizens, according to the Constitution.