The Slavery Lawsuits They Didn’t Teach You In School
Decades before abolition, enslaved people sued for their freedom in court and won. But today, the only freedom suit most people are familiar with is the case of Dred Scott. So why don’t we know more about these early lawsuits? From Massachusetts to Missouri, the history of freedom suits is more complicated than you might think.
This episode of In The Margins is part of PBS’ America@250 collection, celebrating the country’s 250th anniversary. Democracy is built on participation. Get involved at https://vote.org/pbs
In The Margins is a series that covers the history they didn’t teach in school, exploring obscure, yet captivating tales that offer unique insights into their time and place.
00:00 Intro
1:02 Slavery, the Declaration, and early America
2:21 Mumbett Sues for Freedom
4:19 Quock Walker / Slavery ends in MA
5:38 Missouri’s Freedom Suits
7:25 Dred & Harriet Scott
8:36 The 13th and 14th Amendments
10:10 Conclusion
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Learn more about Elizabeth Freeman:
https://thetrustees.org/content/elizabeth-freeman-fighting-for-freedom/
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@pbsorigins
June 7, 2026 at 1:37 pm
We apologize for anyone experiencing the audio and video being out of sync. We are in contact with YouTube about it. This issue has been reported by several channels recently, and they are working on a fix. We'll keep you posted, and thanks for watching.
@uimstr
June 7, 2026 at 1:37 pm
oh so NOW yall wannna teach something lol
@RobertWWD
June 7, 2026 at 1:37 pm
It’s pretty messed up there was more Democrats than Republicans in that Jury is why we had to go to Civil War to free the Slaves.
@dreamcanvas5321
June 7, 2026 at 1:37 pm
Confederate Apologists: "Slaves were treated like cherished family members!"
Reality: Tries to maim a child for being hungry
I guess in their "defense" though some people are really abusive to their family so… /s
@chickns237
June 7, 2026 at 1:37 pm
I'm hoping you still check these comments. I would love an in depth report on the actions of Congress during Andrew Johnson's Presidency. In one of my American History classes in college, I learned that Northern members of Congress "locked out" Southern members while they passed legislature and amendments. I could use a refresh on that, I think we all could.
@crazyasalways9272
June 7, 2026 at 1:37 pm
I think what's really interesting is the fact that Israel, Argentina and the US all outright, voted against listing slavery as a abhorrent and horrible thing you have in the human beings, and with the USI know it's because of our prison system, and I say this as someone who has a family member in the present system that we had to beg money off of my grandmother so that we could send him money so that he could have clothes and shoes in deadwinter because he hadn't worked enough because he had been sick.
@crazyasalways9272
June 7, 2026 at 1:37 pm
Not to take away from this, but I just want to share. I found this out recently in a book called leave it to Abigail. I'm going to have to do more research on it. But John Adams his wife, when he was drafting the Constitution stated that because women had helped with the fight for independence that they deserve their freedom. And he laughed at her, she, he thought that she was joking, I found that so cool, cause even back then, women were saying, yeah, we need to have our own rights. I just found that so cool and I won the share that , but there is also those that also believe that slaves deserve to have the rights under the document as well , which is windy's lawsuits , were thing , which is so cool that there's so much that first of all , it could have been dealt with two hundred years before it was
@johnnguyen1972
June 7, 2026 at 1:37 pm
Beautifully written and hosted. This series should be required viewing in all schools.
@FilmNutz
June 7, 2026 at 1:37 pm
Most edifying! 🏆 Well done! ⭐⭐⭐
@DanielBreadly
June 7, 2026 at 1:37 pm
Someone screwed up and didn't put any de-esser on this video. My ears are not thankful for that.
@DSmith365
June 7, 2026 at 1:37 pm
These are so enamored and infatuated with Deebo, thats all the majority of the comments, is abt Haney. Not abr how weak Barrios is and Garbagecia being on Juice and not calling out Rollie.
@KingNezbitt
June 7, 2026 at 1:37 pm
Too bad the Epstein class rules over US. America would actually be loveable
@kristinmeyer489
June 7, 2026 at 1:37 pm
SOMETHING UPLIFTING, FOR A CHANGE. TOO BAD FOR THE REST OF US IN THIS DAY AND AGE THAT FREEDOM IS DEAD. GET GANGSTALKED AND FIND OUT. YOU’RE IN A CUE YOU DIDNT SIGN UP TO, AND YOU TOO WILL LOSE EVERYTHING THAT MATTERS, FOR THE SAKE OF VERY EVIL MONSTERS.
@feliciagaffney1998
June 7, 2026 at 1:37 pm
I watched something else recently about Mumbett. 🤔 Can't remember what it was.
@starshipgang
June 7, 2026 at 1:37 pm
First things first ‼️ We weren’t allowed to sue back then‼️, because if we could have, we would’ve sued for stolen identity and land and misidentification… the reclassification still continues til this day‼️
@Mogadypopz
June 7, 2026 at 1:37 pm
And this is why im subbed to pbs.
@sir_almighty9475
June 7, 2026 at 1:37 pm
🟥⬛🟩
@Bondishloka
June 7, 2026 at 1:37 pm
I remember learning about Mumbett/Elizabeth Freeman from Liberty's Kids (2002). Liberty's Kids change some parts of the story but still connived the necessary context. Thank you so much for publishing this video.
@Erikcasas64
June 7, 2026 at 1:37 pm
We need black people to educate the country on the same history of ethnicity slavery!
@Adorable_centurion
June 7, 2026 at 1:37 pm
"All men are created equal" by men they ment men – oversimplified
@AthiestHereToo
June 7, 2026 at 1:37 pm
This needs to be taught in grade school
@KevonLindenberg
June 7, 2026 at 1:37 pm
Damn it PBS you're going to convince me go through 8 years of school to become a lawyer aren't you?
@AlfredaMcCray
June 7, 2026 at 1:37 pm
Thank you for sharing this amazing but little known history. Keep it coming ❤
@darbydelane
June 7, 2026 at 1:37 pm
Appreciative Civics teacher here. Great lesson.
@stoppit9
June 7, 2026 at 1:37 pm
I'm so mad I'm from Massachusetts and I didn't know this