Property

Definition

In the context of this question, "property" refers to something that is owned or possessed by someone. It can include physical objects, land, or even people.

Analogy

Think of property as a smartphone that belongs to you. You have the right to use it, sell it, or give it away because it is your possession. Similarly, in the case mentioned in the question, slaves were considered property and could be bought and sold like any other object.

Related terms

Dred Scott v. Sandford: This Supreme Court case ruled that enslaved African Americans were not citizens and therefore could not bring lawsuits to federal courts.

Fugitive Slave Act: This law required all escaped slaves to be returned to their owners if caught, regardless of whether they had reached free states.

Emancipation Proclamation: This executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln declared that all slaves in Confederate territory were legally free.