UIL Social Studies Court Cases

United States v. Thomas Cooper (1800)

When the United States enacted the Alien and Sedition Acts, it made criticizing the United States government illegal. Thomas Cooper, who was a lawyer and newspaper editor from Pennsylvania, was convicted of violating the Sedition Act. He had published a critical attack about President Adams. He lost the court case and was fined $400 and imprisoned for 6 months.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

William Marbury sued James Madison after he refused to give him the status to serve in the District of Columbia. A Court Case where John Marshall established the idea of ‘judicial review; which further improved the system of checks and balances in the federal government.

Fletcher v. Peck (1810)

A Court Case which determined states could not invalidate land contracts to which they were a party. It started after Georgia attempted to revoke a corrupt land sale to which they were listed as a party.

Martin v. Hunter's Lessee (1816)

A Court Case that determined the Supreme Court was the most powerful court in the U.S, and had the power to review the decisions made by State courts. It gave them the option to make sure the state courts made their decisions based on federal law and the Constitution.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

A Court Case that strengthened federal power. It ruled that the States could not tax a bank that the U.S gov founded. Chief Justice John Marshall established concepts of Implied powers and Supremacy Clause(Where the Constitution takes priority over conflicting state laws.

Cohens v. Virginia (1821)

A Court Case where the Cohen brothers were convicted of selling lottery tickets to support the U.S Congress’ lottery to raise funds, in Virginia(Where lotteries were against the law) It was another Case where the Supremacy of the National Court was established, and their ability to review all State Court decisions.

Worcester v. Georgia (1832)

A Court case that decided the States did not have the right to regulate Native American land. Samuel Worcester was a missionary living on Cherokee territory. The state of Georgia passed a law that made it so one needed a license from the governor in order to live on Cherokee land. After Worcested was arrested for not getting a license, he appealed to the Supreme Court, where they ruled in his favor.

Prigg v. Pennsylvania (1842)

The Fugitive Slave law passed in 1793, clashed with a Pennsylvanian law that prevented people of color from being taken out of the Free State, and put back into slavery. After kidnapping a runaway slave in the state, Edward Prigg was convicted. The Supreme Court ruled in Prigg’s favor, stating that Federal law is superior to the law of the states. The Court Case contributed to the Civil War, as it was a success for those supporting slavery.