ABSTRACT

Supreme Decisions: Great Constitutional Cases and Their Impact, covers twenty-four Supreme Court cases (twelve per volume) that have shaped American constitutional law. Interpretive chapters shed light on the nuances of each case, the individuals involved, and the social, political, and cultural context at that particular moment in history. Discussing cases from nearly every decade in a two-hundred-year span, Melvin I. Urofsky expounds on the political climate of the United States from the country's infancy through the new millennium. Featuring Marbury v. Madison, Dred Scott v. Sandford, Miranda v. Arizona, Brown v. Board of Education, and many more, this text covers foundational rulings and more recent decisions. Written with students in mind, Melvin I. Urofsky's voice offers compelling and fascinating accounts of American legal milestones.

chapter 12|16 pages

The Case of the Almost-White Traveler

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

chapter 13|18 pages

The Case of the Stubborn Baker

Lochner v. New York (1905)

chapter 14|16 pages

The Case of the Gentle Anarchist

Abrams v. United States (1919)

chapter 15|16 pages

The Case of the High-Tech Bootlegger

Olmstead v. United States (1928)

chapter 16|18 pages

The Four Horsemen’s Last Ride

The New Deal Cases (1930s)

chapter 17|16 pages

The Case of the Conscientious Schoolchildren

The Flag-Salute Cases (1940 and 1943)

chapter 18|16 pages

The Case of Too-Long-Delayed Equality

Brown v. Board of Education (1954 and 1955)

chapter 19|17 pages

The Case of the Robust Press

New York Times v. Sullivan (1964)

chapter 20|15 pages

The Case of the Uninformed Rapist

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

chapter 21|21 pages

The Case That Aroused Great Passions

Roe v. Wade (1973)

chapter 22|20 pages

Coming Out of the Closet and into the Courts

The Gay Rights Cases (1986–2003)

chapter 23|16 pages

The Constitution Besieged

The War on Terror Cases (2000s)