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Handout
Danuta Bois

Distinguished Women of Past and Present: Ruth Bader Ginsburg

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief biographical sketch of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second woman appointed to the Supreme Court.
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Handout
Soylent Communications

Notable Names Database: James Wilson

For Students 9th - 10th
A short but detailed biography of this delegate to the Constitutional Convention from Pennsylvania. Wilson later served as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the Dred Scott decision and why it changed the course of American history even though many now consider it the worst opinion ever rendered by the U.S. Supreme Court. Includes full-page scans of the decision, a transcription,...
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eBook
US Army Center

U.s. Army Center of Military History: John Blair

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of John Blair, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention from Virginia. He later served as an associate justice on the Supreme Court.
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eBook
US Army Center

U.s. Army Center of Military History: John Rutledge

For Students 9th - 10th
A nice biographical sketch of this delegate from South Carolina to the Constitutional Convention. He later served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court.
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Handout
Other

Civics Resources: Worcester v. Georgia

For Students 9th - 10th
In December 1829, President Andrew Jackson announced his Indian removal proposal in an address to the U.S. Congress. In 1830 Congress passed the Indian Removal Act, which authorized the president to grant the Indians unsettled lands west...
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Dred Scott Decision

For Students 5th - 7th
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...
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Roosevelt's Critics

For Students 5th - 8th
Franklin Roosevelt had many critics, many of whom criticized him for not going far enough with his New Deal legislation. Read about three such critics and their plans.
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Activity
Illinois Institute of Technology

Oyez Project: Schenck v. United States (1919)

For Students 9th - 10th
This U.S. Supreme Court case established the famous "clear and present danger" doctrine by dealing with the issue of freedom of speech. This resource provides an abstract containing a summary, a link to the full text of the decision, and...
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Activity
Illinois Institute of Technology

Oyez Project: Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

For Students 9th - 10th
This U.S. Supreme Court case dealt with the issues of slavery, citizenship, and property rights. It is detailed with an abstract providing a concise summary and a record of the justices that sat on the Court at that time.
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Activity
Illinois Institute of Technology

Oyez Project: United States v. Nixon (1974)

For Students 9th - 10th
This U.S. Supreme Court case required President Nixon to produce the Watergate Tapes. This resource provides an abstract containing a concise summary, a link to the full text of the decision, and a record of how the justices that sat on...
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Activity
Illinois Institute of Technology

Oyez Project: United States v. Butler (1936)

For Students 9th - 10th
This U.S. Supreme Court case declared the first Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) of the New Deal illegal because of the issue of Federalism. This resource provides an abstract containing a concise summary, a link to the full text of the...
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Activity
Illinois Institute of Technology

Oyez Project: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka

For Students 9th - 10th
The U.S. Supreme Court case that overturned Plessy v. Ferguson and dealt with the issues of equal protection and racial discrimination. This resource provides an abstract containing a concise summary, a link to the full text of the...
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Handout
Illinois Institute of Technology

Oyez Project: Marbury v. Madison (1803)

For Students 9th - 10th
The U.S. Supreme Court case that established the precedent for judicial review is detailed, with an abstract providing a concise summary and a record of the justices that sat on the court at that time.
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Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Documents: The Marshall Cases

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Primary
Other

The Federalist Papers: John Jay

For Students 9th - 10th
A good biography of John Jay's extensive political efforts for U.S. throughout his life.
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Article
Other

Oprah.com: Phenomenal Woman: Ruth Bader Ginsburg

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains biographical information and an interview with Chief Justice Ginsburg.
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Activity
University of Groningen

American History: Biographies: Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the University of Groningen contains comprehensive biographical information about Justice Holmes.
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Primary
This Nation

This nation.com: Brown v. Board of Education 2 (1955)

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from ThisNation.com provides Chief Justice Earl Warren's full text of the Supreme Court's decision in this landmark case.
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Handout
Social Studies for Kids

Social Studies for Kids: Thurgood Marshall: Civil Rights Advocate

For Students 9th - 10th
Thurgood Marshall successfully convinced the Supreme Court to rule that segregation was illegal in Brown v. Board of education, then later served on the Court itself. Find out more about this famous lawyer.
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Primary
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Classroom: The Preamble

For Students 9th - 10th
The preamble is the introduction to the Constitution. It outlines the general goals of the framers: to create a just government and to ensure peace, adequate national defense, and a healthy, free nation. With its first three words, "We...
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Handout
University of Groningen

American History: Biographies: Abraham Baldwin 1754 1807

For Students 9th - 10th
Baldwin was born at Guilford, Conn., in 1754, the second son of a blacksmith who fathered 12 children by 2 wives. Besides Abraham, several of the family attained distinction. His sister Ruth married the poet and diplomat Joel Barlow, and...
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Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: Biographical Directory of the u.s. Congress: Oliver Ellsworth

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief biography of Oliver Ellsworth, the delegate from Connecticut to the Constitutional Convention. He also served as a senator and as a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr.

For Students 9th - 10th
January, 2006, report covering the confirmation of Samuel Alito's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. There is also a brief video report from the Associated Press that goes along with this article.