A.P. U.S. History Court Cases Thematic Timelines

Period 4 (1800-1848)

Prior to Marbury vs. Madison, the Supreme Court had undefined powers as the head of the Judicial Branch.
Chief Justice John Marshall led the Supreme Court to its most important historical decision.
The court ruled that the Constitution was official law, not just political guidelines.
The Supreme Court had the power of interpretation and could declare actions of the President or Congress unconstitutional and void, establishing judicial review.
Many precedents set to consolidate the federal government’s authority were later decisions.
McCulloch vs. Maryland (1819) determined states had no authority over the federal government, even with federal institutions in their own state borders.
Gibbons vs. Ogden (1824) held that the federal government had the final say regarding interstate transportation, citing the right to regulate interstate commerce; this was an implied power to maintain interstate commerce.

The Grange, a union of farmers, worked to collectively obtain information on agriculture and other businesses that impacted it.
The Grange also offered emotional support and fellowship for farming communities.
The Grange was able to procure discounts for farming machinery as a group.
In Mun vs. Illinois (1877), the Supreme Court set a maximum price on grain storage rates.
Plessy vs. Ferguson (1896) established the "separate but equal" doctrine.
The case involved separate rail cars for colored and white people.
Laws enacted under this precedent were referred to as Jim Crow Laws.

Chief Justice Earl Warren led the Supreme Court to many unanimous (9-0) votes protecting individual rights and equal opportunity, regardless of race or sex.
The series of pro-Civil Rights decisions in the 1950s and 1960s is referred to as the Warren Court.
Brown vs. Board of Education (1954) ended segregation in schools.
Loving vs. Virginia (1967) forbade state-level bans on interracial marriage.
Roe vs. Wade (1973) was a landmark decision on the constitutionality of laws that criminalized or restricted access to abortions.