SCOTUS Landmark Cases

Wisconsin v. Yonder (Facts)

A state law required all students in the state to attend public school until 16 years old without any exceptions for religious groups.

Schenck v. U.S. (Facts)

A man was arrested under federal law for mailing information criticizing the military draft during World War 1, which the government claimed threatened national security.

Engel v. Vitale (Facts)

A state law allowed public schools to recite a short, voluntary prayer at the beginning of each school day. 

Tinker v. Des Moines (Facts)

A public school suspended students for wearing black armbands to school in protest of the Vietnam War. 

New York Times v. U.S. (Facts)

The federal government tried to stop newspapers from publishing secret government documents about the Vietnam War, claiming the documents threatened national security.

Shaw v. Reno (Facts)

A state created an oddly shaped majority-black congressional district to give greater political representation to black residents.

Gideon v. Wainwright (Facts)

A defendant in a state criminal case had to defend himself at trial because he could no afford an attorney and the state said it did not have to provide one under the 6th amendment. 

McDonald v. Chicago (Facts)

A city severely restricted residents from obtaining a license to own a handgun.

Brown v. Board of Education (Facts)

A public school district in Kansas segregated Black and White students by placing them in different schools.

Baker v. Carr (Facts)

A state failed to redraw congressional districts even though they contained significantly different numbers of voters.

Wisconsin v. Yonder (Issue)

Compelling students to attend school past the eighth grade when it conflicts with their religious beliefs violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.

Schenck v. U.S. (Issue)

Speech creating a “clear and present danger” was no protected by the First Amendment and could be limited.

Engel v. Vitale (Issue)

School sponsorship of religious activities violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. 

Tinker v. Des Moines (Issue)

Students retain their First Amendment rights while in public schools as long as their speech does not “materially or substantially interfere” with the school’s operation.

New York Times v. U.S. (Issue)

The freedom of the press clause of the First Amendment establishes a “heavy presumption against prior restraint” even in cases involving national security.

Shaw v Reno (Issue)

Under the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause, majority-minority districts are unconstitutional ir race is the only factor used in creating the district. 

Gideon v. Wainwright (Issue)

The Sixth Amendment’s right to an attorney extends to felony defendants in state courts.

McDonald v. Chicago (Issue)

The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms for self-defense is applicable to the states.

Brown v. Board of Education (Issue)

Race-based school segregation violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. 

Baker v. Carr (Issue)

A state’s failure to equalize the number of voters in congressional districts violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment by giving some voters more power than others.