APUSH Major Supreme Court Cases

Marbury v. Madison

1803: Established the precedent of Judicial Review (Supreme Court’s ability to determine whether something is constitutional or unconstitutional)

McCulloh v. Maryland

1819: Established that the nation held supreme authority over the states, and this was to be extended to the state governments and their banks

i.e, states can’t tax an agency of the national government!

Dartmouth College v. Woodward

1819: Established Constitution’s protection of all contracts (important for private property)

Gibbons v. Ogden

1824: Established Congress’ power over interstate commerce

Worcester v. Georgia

1832: Came about under Jackson’s term. Debated whether Georgia’s government had the authority to relocate the natives unto reservations. Marshall declared it to be unconstitutional, yet Jackson relocated the Natives either way (Trail of Tears)

Dredd Scott v. Sanford

1856: Dredd Scott, a former slave, questioned his status after being transferred to outside of Missouri state line. Declared that Congress has no right to deny states property (slaves) and, as such, that the Missouri Compromise of 1820 was unconstitutional.

• drove a lot of white settlers to the Republican Party

Wabash Case

1886: Case between Pacific Co. v. Illinois. Denounced the Illinois Granger Laws to be unconstitutional from infringing upon Congress’ Interstate Commerce Powers. Placed federal superiority and stated that only the government can effectively regulate the railroads

Plessy v. Ferguson

1896: Established “separate but equal” and created legal segregation in United States.

Schenck v. United States

1919: Gave the government extraordinary powers in the presence of “clear and present danger.” Under the Sedition Acts, the gov’t can convict people for speaking out (in this case, against WWI)

Korematsu v. United States

1944: Korematsu sued the government’s Executive Order 9066 (Japanese internment) on the basis of his status as an American citizen. US court used Schenck case’s precedent to go through with it anyway despite his justifiable plea to court

Brown v. Board of Education

1954: Overturned the “separate but equal” ruling of Plessy v. Ferguson

• Court unanimously ruled that segregation damages the hearts and minds of students

Baker v. Carr

1962: Civil Court Case that ended with the ruling that citizens have a court-verified right to complain and correct the apportioning of the legislatures that they voted for.

Escobedo v. Ilinois

1964: States that the accused have the right to consult his attorney anytime during the investigation (must be informed about the “right to remain silent” before investigation)

Miranda v. Arizona

1966: Civil Rights case ruling that policemen must inform anybody their rights before their arrest

Roe v. Wade

1973: Ruled that women have the right to abortion (protected by the 14th amendment)

Bakke v. U.C. Regents

1978: Ruled that race can be considered in college admissions, but there cannot be a racial quota (ratio) in the admission process