Regarding the infamous Dred Scott decision by the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS):
Assume that 5 out of 9 justices actually declared all men to be people rather than property (regardless of race), and therefore slavery and its institutions to be null and void, in the 1850's, without having to fight the ACW. For this to work, there would have to be at least two different people on the high bench, but let's assume this to be the case.
By extension, the Missouri Compromise itself would be voided, and the provisions in the Constitution regarding "3/5's of a vote" and "returning slaves to owners " rendered moot.
The south is outraged, and demands action. The compromise result is as follows: Each slave is deemed to owe his/her master an amount equivalent to theur market value at the time of the SCOTUS decision! The federal government agrees to provide cheap loans or grants and buys off the Soutrhern states! The south is not happy over the loss of their 'Peculiar Institution', the north is not happy about going into debt over the 'South's problem', and the people are not happy about the federal-state sales tax imposed to cover the loans, but the whole thing holds together. Some states threaten succession, two even pass bills in their lower houses, but the whole thing blows over when the 'rich southern lobbyists' decide to cut their losses and accept the compensation.
Meanwhile, the former slaves are initially jubilent, and then less so when they realize that slavery gomes in different guises: Many in the south resent the freedom of the 'uppity' former slaves, and flee north. The ones who remain are paid pathetic wages to do the same work as before, etc. In the north, non Africans are displaced in unskilled jobs, and resent their new unemployment. All like the OTL, just 8-10 years sooner.
Where would things go from here? There's been no desperate ACW, no need for Reconstruction, the wealth of the South has not been squandered, the north has not had rapid industrialization due to a bitter war, etc.
Would women's suffrage have flared earlier with these events occuring?
Would the USA's role in the world be dramatically altered? For example, the UK would never have had to develop cotton industries in India and the middle east if the US's supply remained abundent and uninterrupted, etc.
Assume that 5 out of 9 justices actually declared all men to be people rather than property (regardless of race), and therefore slavery and its institutions to be null and void, in the 1850's, without having to fight the ACW. For this to work, there would have to be at least two different people on the high bench, but let's assume this to be the case.
By extension, the Missouri Compromise itself would be voided, and the provisions in the Constitution regarding "3/5's of a vote" and "returning slaves to owners " rendered moot.
The south is outraged, and demands action. The compromise result is as follows: Each slave is deemed to owe his/her master an amount equivalent to theur market value at the time of the SCOTUS decision! The federal government agrees to provide cheap loans or grants and buys off the Soutrhern states! The south is not happy over the loss of their 'Peculiar Institution', the north is not happy about going into debt over the 'South's problem', and the people are not happy about the federal-state sales tax imposed to cover the loans, but the whole thing holds together. Some states threaten succession, two even pass bills in their lower houses, but the whole thing blows over when the 'rich southern lobbyists' decide to cut their losses and accept the compensation.
Meanwhile, the former slaves are initially jubilent, and then less so when they realize that slavery gomes in different guises: Many in the south resent the freedom of the 'uppity' former slaves, and flee north. The ones who remain are paid pathetic wages to do the same work as before, etc. In the north, non Africans are displaced in unskilled jobs, and resent their new unemployment. All like the OTL, just 8-10 years sooner.
Where would things go from here? There's been no desperate ACW, no need for Reconstruction, the wealth of the South has not been squandered, the north has not had rapid industrialization due to a bitter war, etc.
Would women's suffrage have flared earlier with these events occuring?
Would the USA's role in the world be dramatically altered? For example, the UK would never have had to develop cotton industries in India and the middle east if the US's supply remained abundent and uninterrupted, etc.
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