Landmark Supreme Court Cases

Vocabulary flashcards of landmark Supreme Court cases and their significance.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established judicial review, allowing the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Confirmed the supremacy of federal law over state law and upheld the constitutionality of the national bank.

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

Strengthened the federal government’s power to regulate interstate commerce.

Worcester v. Georgia (1832)

Recognized tribal sovereignty, but President Jackson ignored the decision, leading to the Trail of Tears.

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

Ruled that African Americans were not citizens and that Congress could not ban slavery in territories; this case intensified sectional tensions.

Ex parte Milligan (1866)

Declared that civilians cannot be tried by military courts when civilian courts are available.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Legalized racial segregation under “separate but equal.”

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Upheld restrictions on free speech during wartime ('clear and present danger' test).

Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States (1935)

Struck down parts of the New Deal (NIRA), limiting the power of the federal government.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Overturned Plessy, declaring segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Guaranteed the right to a lawyer even if you can’t afford one (6th Amendment).

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

Required that suspects be informed of their rights ('Miranda rights').

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Legalized abortion under the right to privacy.

United States v. Nixon (1974)

Limited executive privilege; led to Nixon’s resignation.

Bush v. Gore (2000)

Resolved the 2000 election dispute, effectively giving George W. Bush the presidency.