US History Supreme Court Cases

Cases that need to be known

Marbury V. Madison 1803

Established Judicial review, allowing courts to invalidate laws that are unconstitutional. (Checks and balances, Supreme Court can check the Executive and Legislative Branches) Chief Justice John Marshall

McCulloch v. Maryland 1819

Implied powers for Congress. This case gave power to Congress to establish a National Bank

Dred Scott v. Sanford 1856

A landmark Supreme Court case that ruled African Americans were not citizens and therefore could not sue in federal court, reinforcing the legality of slavery in the territories. A slave could not become free if they went to a free state

Plessy v. Ferguson 1896

Legalized Segregation, separate but equal

Schenck V. United States 1919

First amendment rights are curtailed during a time of war if they present a clear and present danger to the nation. This case upheld the Espionage Act, ruling that speech creating a "clear and present danger" could be restricted, particularly during wartime.

Korematsu v. United States 1944

Upheld the power of the President in wartime to limit a group’s civil liberties; MADE internment of Japanese-Americans LEGAL; during WW2. The Supreme Court ruled that the government's decision to intern Japanese-Americans was justified by national security concerns during World War II, despite the violation of their constitutional rights.

Brown V. Board of Ed 1954

Landmark case that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional, effectively overturning Plessy v. Ferguson. No longer agreed with separate but equal and mandated the desegregation of schools across America.

Miranda v. Arizona 1966

A landmark Supreme Court case that established Miranda rights, requiring law enforcement to inform suspects of their rights to silence and legal counsel during interrogations to protect against self-incrimination. Must be read when someone is being arrested.

Roe v. Wade 1973

Supreme Court case that recognized a woman's constitutional right to obtain an abortion under the right to privacy, effectively legalizing it across the United States.

Bush v. Gore 2000

A Supreme Court case that resolved the disputed 2000 presidential election, effectively deciding that a recount of votes in Florida could not proceed under the Equal Protection Clause, thus awarding Florida's electoral votes to George W. Bush. Can the Supreme Court intervene in a state process to overturn electoral process?

Gibbons v. Ogden 1824

Federal regulation of interstate commerce. Ruled that only the federal government can regulate interstate commerce making it a matter of federal over state power.

Gideon v. Wainwright 1963

Gives the right to have an attorney. Clarence Gideon denied the right to an attorney because he couldn’t afford one, sixth amendment made it a right to counsel in criminal cases even for poor defendants.

Tinker v. Des Moines 1969

Free speech in schools. Kids wore black armbands to class in protest of Vietnam War and were suspended. Court ruled in the students favor and said they had the right to the first amendment in school as long as it wasn’t disrupting learning.

U.S. v. Nixon

Ruling limited executive privilege. Happened during the Watergate scandal, where Nixon had to turn over the tapes. Reminded people that not even the President is above the law.

New Jersey v. T.L.O 1985

Made school searches legal with reasonable suspicion. Happened after a girl was caught with drugs in school and claimed it violated her fourth amendment. Sided with the school that searches were okay if they had probable cause.