United States Constitution
Imagine you and a friend are exchanging emails and have been discussing the landmark Supreme Court cases that have shaped the state of civil rights in the United States today.
Select 3 of the following landmark cases/rulings related to civil rights and/or slavery:
Dred Scott v. Sandford, 60 U.S. 393 (1857)
Strauder v. West Virginia, 100 U.S. 303 (1880)
Civil Rights Cases, 109 U.S. 3 (1883)
Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537 (1896)
Powell v. Alabama, 287 U.S. 45 (1932)
Loving v. Virginia (1967)
Shelley v. Kraemer (1948)
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)
You can also explore other U.S. landmark cases by searching the University Library.
Write a 1,050- to 1,400-word e-mail addressed to your friend, using a tone conveying cordial interpersonal communications, which includes the following:
Summarize the details of the 3 selected cases.
Evaluate how the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Bill of Rights addressed the decisions and outcomes of the cases.
The Dred Scott case saw a slave take his freedom fight all the way to the Supreme Court, with his former master arguing that as a black man he was not considered a citizen under the Constitution and therefore could not sue in federal court or travel freely from one place to another without permission from his owner(s). The majority opinion argued this decision but also declared that African Americans were “so far inferior…of no political rights” whatsoever, effectively denying them any protection under law for over sixty years until it was overturned by later decisions such as Plessy v Ferguson (1896).
In Strauder v West Virginia, John Strauder sued after being denied service on a jury because of his race; however, unlike in previous cases where racial discrimination had been upheld under states’ laws allowing it at the time, this ruling found that these practices violated equal protection Clause of Fourteenth Amendment which would prevent states from passing discriminatory laws going forward into future.
Lastly Civil Rights Cases struck down Civil Rights Act 1875 put forth Congress provide national level protections against racial discrimination public places like hotels theaters train cars etc saying it exceeded authority offered US Constitution much same fashion Dred Scott before them did ... Both decisions used language implying those discriminated against still lacked any form citizenship status thus hindering group's ability continue fighting oppressive policies government institutions.
These rulings unfortunately set stage multiple future ones uphold segregation even after Reconstruction period ended when legal slavery abolished Unfortunately their outcome still felt today many forms racism exist come different ways subtle yet persistent manner thanks unequal treatment based solely someone's skin color/ethnicity or religious beliefs .
To conclude going back look earlier mentioned decisions clear see how precedents established during era now inform present day society respect handling certain topics related human rights minorities are afforded within framework US Constitution itself continuously challenge ourselves reevaluate evaluate what we consider just equitable way life respect everyone regardless background identity might be ...
What other landmark Supreme Court cases can you think of?