Curated OER
History Matters: Separate but Equal: The Plessy v. Ferguson Case
Read the judgment of Supreme Court justice, Henry Billings Brown, who wrote for the majority in the Plessy v Ferguson decision that codified the idea of "separate but equal" in the American justice system until it was overturned by Brown...
University of Groningen
American History: Documents: The Marshall Cases
Text of landmark Supreme Court cases presided over by Chief Justice John Marshall, that decided questions of how to interpret the U.S. Constitution. The cases took place between 1801 and 1825.
University of Missouri
Exploring Constitutional Conflicts: Plessy v Ferguson
Read the Supreme Court opinion that solidified the concept of separate, but equal in American law. The dissenting opinion written by Justice John Harlan is also included.
Other
Schs: The History of the Court
Find a summary of each Supreme Court from the Jay Court, 1789-1795, through the Rehnquist Court, 1986-2005. Read about the major decisions and what was happening in the country at the time.
Teaching American History
Teaching American History: Plessy v. Ferguson (Excerpts)
Find excerpts of the controverisal Supreme Court decision, Plessy v Ferguson along with the dissenting opinion by Supreme Court Justice, John Marshall Harlan.
PBS
Wnet: Thirteen: The Supreme Court: Timeline: Supreme Court Developments
PBS' series on the Supreme Court offers this interactive timeline showing important dates in Supreme Court history. Clicking on the date gives more information about cases being decided around that specific time. A great resource.
Other
Landmark Supreme Court Cases
Excellent resources for teaching about landmark Supreme Court cases. Strategies include case study, moot court activity, role play, continuum, community resources, evaluating websites, and political cartoon analysis.
Digital History
Digital History: Religion in Public Schools: Engle v. Vitale
Read the background of the Supreme Court case, Engle v Vitale, in which school prayer was banned. Find Justice Hugo Black's opinion confirming that decision.
Digital History
Digital History: Plessy v. Ferguson
A very thorough explanation of the famous Supreme Court decision about Plessy v. Ferguson. It upheld the idea of "separate but equal," which was in effect until Brown v Board of Education in 1954. See who opposed the decision, and read...
Digital History
Digital History: The Controversial Dred Scott Decision [Pdf]
The Dred Scott case was a test case on whether African-Americans, whether free or slave, had any rights. Find out what led up to this controverisal decision, and read the reasoning of the majority opinion as expressed by Chief Justice...
Digital History
Digital History: Equality Postponed [Pdf]
Read the background of the controversial Supreme Court decision in the Plessy v Ferguson case. Follow the arguments for and against "separate but equal." [pdf]
Digital History
Digital History: The Sherman Anti Trust Act and Standard Oil [Pdf]
As the influence of large corporations spread in the age of big business, push-back was inevitable. Read about the Sherman Anti-Trust Act and the government's attempts to rein in the laissez-faire attitudes of corporations and the lack...
Digital History
Digital History: Affirmative Action and the Case of Allan Bakke [Pdf]
The history of affirmative action was interwoven with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Read about how the federal government under both President Kennedy and President Nixon attempted to open up jobs to...
University of Missouri
Exploring Constitutional Conflicts: Roe v. Wade
This page gives the majority opinion and dissenting opinion of the Roe vs. Wade case of 1973.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Dred Scott Decision
Read the terms of the Dred Scott decision which determined that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional. See why this decision was so controversial and completely unacceptable to the northerners, thus driving an additional wedge...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Roe v. Wade and Its Impact
The subject of the legality of abortion has been a contentious one for decades. Read about the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade in 1973, and the subsequent attempts to maintain it and overturn it.