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Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the document that described America's first form of government. This form of government gave almost all of the power to the State Governments and gave very little to the National Government. This form of government gave most of the power to the states meaning it was an increase to state power. -
Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention was a meeting of representatives that was intended to fix the Articles of Confederation. This meeting quickly turned into a complete rewrite which turned into the US Constitution. The US Constitution relies much more on National or Federal power rather than state. This convention increased National power immensely. -
Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3)
The Commerce Clause gives the National Government the power to regulate interstate commerce between states and to regulate commerce with other nations. This clause increases the National Governments power. -
Necessary and Proper Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18)
The Necessary and Proper Clause gives Congress the authority to make pass laws that are necessary to the function of the National government. This extends the National Governments authority. -
10th Amendment
The 10th Amendment is the last amendment of the Bill of Rights. This Amendment gives states the power over anything not specifically stated or prohibited in the constitution. This increases states rights. -
McCulloch v. Maryland
In the court case McCulloch v. Maryland the state of Maryland tries to tax the National bank which the Supreme Court deems Unconstitutional. This use of National Supremacy increases the National Governments power. -
Gibbons v. Ogden
Gibbons filed a suit against Ogden for operating his steam boat in Gibbons's jurisdiction but the case was over turned by New York courts saying that the issue was within the National Governments jurisdiction. This established the National Governments dominance over State Government. -
Civil War
The Civil War is one of the best examples of the National Governments supremacy because Abraham Lincoln didn't allow the South to break away and form their own nation. He used the National Authority over the Military to fight for the reunification of the United States of America. -
Formation of Land-Grant Colleges
Land Grant Colleges were colleges created from national grants. These grants from the National Government showed the National Governments supremacy because it gave money to the states. -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment made is so that all people born or naturalized in the United States are citizens. It also made it unlawful for states to enforce laws that infringe on the rights of the people. This amendment increased National power a lot because it limited states. -
Pure Food and Drug Act
The Pure Food and Drug Act were laws passed to regulate the production and sale of different foods and medicines in the US. These laws were passed on the National level over ruling what states may have previously had which increased the National governments authority. -
16th Amendment
The 16th Amendment gave the National Government the power to tax the incomes of citizens. This tax went over the states powers showing the National Governments supremacy. -
Gitlow v. New York
In this court case Gitlow was convicted in the state of New York for inciting the overthrow the government. This case showed a rise in state power because it went against the 14th amendment and was still upheld. -
The New Deal
The New Deal is another great example of the National Governments supremacy over State Governments. It shows its supremacy because in the New Deal the National Government gave grants to the states to fund projects to get the country out of the Great Depression. This is an increase in National power because it was funding the state. -
Brown v. Board of Education
The Brown v. Board of Education case impacted federalism because the National Government over ruled states passing laws to segregate schools. This case showed the National Governments supremacy because it over ruled what states were doing in their education systems which is a power usually left up to the states themselves. -
Economic Opportunity Act of 1964
The Economic Opportunity Act authorized the formation of local Community Action Agencies that were directly run by the National Government. These agencies being directly run by the National Government shows its dominance because it went over the State and Local Governments authority. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 made it illegal to discriminate against people due to their race, religion, sex, etc. This increased the National Governments power because it over ruled preexisting state laws. -
Roe v. Wade
The case Roe v. Wade determined a woman's right to an abortion in the first trimester of their pregnancy but left the second and third trimester up to the state the woman is in. This shows power being given to the states since they can determine what happens after the first trimester. -
Election of Ronald Reagan
The Reagan administration rolled back national policies that dictated what states could and couldn't do. Doing this increased the power of the State Governments. -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act made it harder for people with disabilities to be discriminated against. These laws limited some of the powers of states increasing the power of the National Government. -
United States v. Lopez
This case effected federalism because the Supreme Court didn't support the National Government over charging Alfonzo Lopez with having a firearm on school property. This only raised the power of State Governments because it lessened the power the National Government. -
104th Congress
The 104th Congress was held by a majority of Republicans. This caused them to do away with policies that limited the power of states because they believed in states rights. These new freedoms granted to states increased the power of State Governments. -
Printz v. United States
The case Printz v. United States caused the National Government to overturn part of a law because it went against the 10th Amendment. The 10th Amendment being upheld was an increase to the power of State Governments. -
No Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind Act regulated what children were taught and their testing. This took away state powers because states are in charge of their education systems increasing the power of the National Government. -
Development of the Department of Homeland Security
The development of the Department of Homeland Security increased the powers of the National Government by giving them more authority over National Defense.
