COurt cases for apush

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established judicial review; Supreme Court can declare laws unconstitutional.This landmark case arose when William Marbury sued Secretary of State James Madison for refusing to deliver his commission as a justice of the peace, reinforcing the power of the judiciary.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Upheld constitutionality of national bank; federal > state power. This 1819 Supreme Court case determined that states could not tax the federal government, reinforcing the supremacy of federal laws over state laws.

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

Only Congress can regulate interstate commerce.This 1824 Supreme Court case clarified that the power to regulate interstate commerce is granted to Congress by the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, limiting states' rights in this area.

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

African Americans not citizens; Congress can't ban slavery in territories. This Supreme Court case ruled that Dred Scott, an enslaved African American, was not a citizen and that the federal government did not have the authority to regulate slavery in the territories, further entrenching the institution of slavery in the United States.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Legalized segregation; 'separate but equal' doctrine. This landmark Supreme Court case upheld racial segregation laws for public facilities under the doctrine of "separate but equal," establishing a legal basis for discrimination in the United States.

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Speech not protected if it creates a 'clear and present danger'. This Supreme Court case established that limitations on free speech are permissible during wartime, specifically when the speech poses a clear and present danger to national security.

Schechter Poultry v. U.S. (1935)

Struck down part of New Deal; limited presidential power. This Supreme Court case ruled that the National Recovery Administration (NRA) was unconstitutional, asserting that Congress could not delegate legislative power to the executive branch, thereby limiting presidential authority during the New Deal era.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Overturned Plessy; ended school segregation. This landmark Supreme Court case declared that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, ruling that "separate but equal" educational facilities are inherently unequal.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

States must provide attorneys to defendants who can't afford one. This Supreme Court case established the right to counsel, ensuring that defendants in criminal cases have access to legal representation at no cost if they cannot afford an attorney.

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

Required police to inform arrested persons of their rights. This Supreme Court case mandated that individuals taken into police custody must be informed of their right to remain silent and to have an attorney present during interrogations, ensuring that confessions are not coerced.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Legalized abortion based on right to privacy. This landmark Supreme Court case established a woman's legal right to choose an abortion, asserting that the right to privacy under the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment extends to a woman's decision to terminate her pregnancy.

U.S. v. Nixon (1974)

Limited executive privilege; president must follow rule of law. This Supreme Court case affirmed that no person, not even the President of the United States, is above the law, leading to the release of tapes related to the Watergate scandal and reinforcing the principle of judicial oversight.