US History Supreme Court Cases

Marbury vs. Madison

Judicial Review-  Supreme Court has the right to declare a federal law unconstitutional

Chief Justice

McCulloch vs. Maryland

Increased power of federal government over states

Gibbons vs. Ogden

Commerce Clause

Congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce

Chief Justice John Marshall/The Marshall Court

Strengthened the power of the federal government 

Increase in the power of federal government over states

Worchester v. Georgia

Trail of Tears

Dred Scott vs. Sandford

Ruled that Congress could not ban slavery in the territories

Praised by Southern leaders- protected property rights of slave owners in the territories

Plessy vs. Ferguson

Established the “separate but equal” doctrine

Upheld racial segregation in public facilities

Schenck vs. United States

Freedom of speech may be limited during national emergencies when speech presents a clear and present danger to the nation

Freedom of speech

Civil liberties (first amendment, freedom of speech) may be restricted, constitutional rights are not absolute

Korematsu vs. United States

Placement of Japanese Americans in internment camps by Executive Order

Excluded Japanese Americans from West Coast on basis of national security

During wartime civil liberties may be limited 

Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka Kansas

Increase equal rights for African Americans

Overturned Plessy vs. Ferguson

United States vs. Nixon

Executive privilege did not allow the president to withhold recordings that were related to the Watergate affair

New York Times vs. United States

President is not above the law

Placed limits on the powers of the president

Tinker vs. Des Moines

Students’ freedom of speech

New Jersey vs. TLO

Students’ freedom of speech

Students rights may be limited in school

Vernonia School District v. Acton

Students’ freedom of speech

Students rights may be limited in school

Engel vs. Vitale

Students’ freedom of speech

Mapp vs. Ohio

Established the exclusionary rule - evidence obtained through an illegal search and seizure cannot be used in court (4th Amendment) Rights of the accused

Gideon vs. Wainwright

Guaranteed the right to a court-appointed attorney for defendants who cannot afford one (6th Amendment, right to counsel) Rights of the accused

Miranda vs. Arizona

Required police to inform suspects of their rights (right to remain silent, right to an attorney) before questioning - protection from self-incrimination (5th Amendment) Rights of the accused

Roe vs. Wade

Dealt with women’s right to privacy and abortion