Has anyone compiled a list of states in which Black Americans were allowed to vote and exercise other civil rights before the war? During the antebellum period many Northern states (Illinois, for example) had enacted laws denying a broad range of civil rights to Black Americans. In Illinois these included the right to marry and even the right to establish residency in the state.

Until quite recently I had assumed Black Americans in Northern states enjoyed most if not all civil rights held by other residents. It was quite a surprise to learn that Illinois and its elected representatives (Abraham Lincoln, for example) believed that Black Americans should never be accorded social or civil equality, and would never have the same political rights as other Americans. In fact, Lincoln and many others in his party (Henry Clay, for example) supported efforts to remove Black Americans from this country.

It helped me to understand the Dred Scott decision, which appears to have been in accordance with state laws throughout the country. It also explained opposition to slavery in the territories, i.e., if slavery spread beyond its present limits, it would be more difficult to remove all Black Americans as planned.