Landmark Supreme Court Cases (Rewritten Summary)
The U.S. Supreme Court has made numerous decisions that have had a lasting impact on
individual rights and government power. These major rulings, known as landmark cases, helped
shape constitutional law and civil liberties in America. Below is a revised overview of some of
the most important ones:
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
In the final hours of his presidency, John Adams appointed several judges, but some of the
commissions weren’t delivered on time. When Thomas Jefferson took office, he told his
Secretary of State, James Madison, not to deliver the remaining ones. William Marbury, one of
the appointees, sued to get his commission. The Supreme Court ruled that while Marbury had a
right to the position, the Court couldn’t enforce it because the law giving them that power was
unconstitutional. This case was crucial because it established the principle of judicial review,
giving the Court the power to declare laws unconstitutional.
Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
Dred Scott, a slave, sued for his freedom after living in free territories. The Supreme Court ruled
against him, stating that enslaved people were considered property and not citizens, and
therefore couldn’t sue in federal court. The Court also said Congress had no authority to ban
slavery in U.S. territories, declaring the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional. This decision
emphasized that the Fifth Amendment protected property—including slaves—without due
process, worsening sectional tensions before the Civil War.
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
Homer Plessy, who was part African American, was arrested for sitting in a "whites-only" train
car in Louisiana. He argued that the law requiring racial segregation violated his Fourteenth
Amendment rights. The Supreme Court upheld the law, ruling that "separate but equal"
accommodations for Black and white citizens were constitutional. This decision legalized racial
segregation and justified it for decades until it was challenged later.
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
Linda Brown, a young Black girl, had to travel a long distance to attend a segregated school,
even though a white school was closer. Her family sued, challenging racial segregation in public
schools. The Supreme Court unanimously overturned Plessy v. Ferguson (in public education),
declaring that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. This ruling marked the
beginning of the end for legal segregation and was a major victory for the civil rights movement.
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
The U.S. Supreme Court has made numerous decisions that have had a lasting impact on
individual rights and government power. These major rulings, known as landmark cases, helped
shape constitutional law and civil liberties in America. Below is a revised overview of some of
the most important ones:
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
In the final hours of his presidency, John Adams appointed several judges, but some of the
commissions weren’t delivered on time. When Thomas Jefferson took office, he told his
Secretary of State, James Madison, not to deliver the remaining ones. William Marbury, one of
the appointees, sued to get his commission. The Supreme Court ruled that while Marbury had a
right to the position, the Court couldn’t enforce it because the law giving them that power was
unconstitutional. This case was crucial because it established the principle of judicial review,
giving the Court the power to declare laws unconstitutional.
Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
Dred Scott, a slave, sued for his freedom after living in free territories. The Supreme Court ruled
against him, stating that enslaved people were considered property and not citizens, and
therefore couldn’t sue in federal court. The Court also said Congress had no authority to ban
slavery in U.S. territories, declaring the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional. This decision
emphasized that the Fifth Amendment protected property—including slaves—without due
process, worsening sectional tensions before the Civil War.
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
Homer Plessy, who was part African American, was arrested for sitting in a "whites-only" train
car in Louisiana. He argued that the law requiring racial segregation violated his Fourteenth
Amendment rights. The Supreme Court upheld the law, ruling that "separate but equal"
accommodations for Black and white citizens were constitutional. This decision legalized racial
segregation and justified it for decades until it was challenged later.
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
Linda Brown, a young Black girl, had to travel a long distance to attend a segregated school,
even though a white school was closer. Her family sued, challenging racial segregation in public
schools. The Supreme Court unanimously overturned Plessy v. Ferguson (in public education),
declaring that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. This ruling marked the
beginning of the end for legal segregation and was a major victory for the civil rights movement.
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
