Landmark Supreme Court Cases

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

•Established the power of judicial review

•Courts can declare laws unconstitutional

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

•Congress could not prohibit slavery in US territories

•Slaves were not citizens

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

•Established the “separate but equal” doctrine (allowing segregation)

•This was later overturned in 1954

Schenck v. United States (1919)

•Free speech could be limited if there was a “clear and present danger” that illegal action might result

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

•“separate but equal” was declared unconstitutional

•Segregation ended

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

•A person accused of a crime has the right to a lawyer

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

•Police officers must inform suspects of their rights when arresting them

•They are now called “Miranda Rights”

Roe v. Wade (1973)

•Made abortion legal in certain situations

United States v. Nixon (1974)

•Presidents have executive privilege (not disclosing information) if national security is involved but not to conceal a crime