Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Established the principle of judicial review- the Supreme Court could revoke all laws made by Congress
Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
Ruled that African Americans were not citizen of the U.S.; declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
a state could not tax a national bank
Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)
Federal Government (not the state governments) had the power to regulate trade between the states
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
Established the principle "separate but equal," said segregated facilities did not violate the 14th amendment
Sweatt v. Painter (1950)
State law schools had to admit black students even if separate black law schools existed
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)
Unanimously overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, ruled that segregated schools are inherently unequal and mandated the desegregation of schools
Mapp v. Ohio (1961)
Evidence obtained illegally could not be used in court
Baker v. Carr (1962)
Electoral district lines that are arbitrarily drawn violate voters' constitutional rights and may be challenged
Gideon v. Wainright (1963)
Poor people are entitled to free legal council
Escobedo v. Illinois (1964)
people have the right to an attorney when being questioned
Reynolds v. Simms (1964)
one person, one vote" principle mandated redistricting in all 50 states based on population; shifted the balance of power from rural areas to urban districts
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
Police required to inform all criminal suspects of their constitutional rights - "Miranda Rights" - before questioning: the right to remain silent, warning that anything a suspect says may be used against them, and the right to an attorney before or durin
Roe v. Wade (1973)
gave women the right to seek an abortion in the first three months of their pregnancy, under their right of privacy
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978)
Allan Blakke, a white student, had to be admitted to UC Medical School, a victim of "reverse discrimination
Hernandez v. Texas
Supreme court case that declared Mexican Americans and all other racial groups had equal protection under the 14th amendment.