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1215
Magna Carta
King John signed Magna Carta
Moved from rule of man to rule of law
Outlined individual rights which king could not violate
Included taxation and trial provisions -
Jamestown House of Burgesses
Each charter guaranteed colonists the “rights of Englishmen.” -
Mayflower Compact
Each charter guaranteed colonists the “rights of Englishmen.” -
Petition of Right
King Charles required to sign the Petition of Right
Required monarchs to obtain Parliamentary approval before new taxes
Government could not unlawfully imprison people or establish military rule during times of peace -
English Bill of Rights
English Bill of Rights passed
Guaranteed free speech and protection from cruel and unusual punishment -
Sugar Act
First direct tax on paper goods and legal documents
Stamp Act Congress met to protest the tax and it was repealed -
Stamp Act
First direct tax on paper goods and legal documents
Stamp Act Congress met to protest the tax and it was repealed -
Boston Massacre
British soldiers fired into crowd
5 colonists died -
Boston Tea Party
Revolutionaries dumped British Tea into the harbor -
Intolerable Acts
Colonists were forced to “Quarter,” or house, British troops -
Judiciary Act of 1789
Established a Three-tiered Judicial Structure
1. District courts
2. Circuit courts
3. Supreme Court -
Federalist paper Gazette of the United States published
Growth of Mass Media; Federalist paper Gazette of the United States published -
2nd Amendment
"A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." -
3rd Amendment
"No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law." -
4th Amendment
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." -
5th Amendment
"No person... shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law..." -
Marbury v. Madison
Power of judicial review. -
12th amendment
12th amendment allows the President to choose V.P. -
McCulloch v. Maryland
Maryland taxed the national bank.
Court ruled bank was necessary and proper.
Maryland couldn’t tax bank b/c it could weaken the national government.
"The power to tax is the power to destroy." -
Gibbons v. Ogden
Right of a state legislature to award a monopoly to operate a steamship line between NY and NJ -
Seneca Falls Convention
First national woman's rights convention in the US
Called for equal rights in voting, education, and property -
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Dred Scott
Slave who sued for his and his family's freedom after being taken to a free state.
Court said that Scott, as an African-American and previously property, was not a citizen .
Gave him no legal standing to sue.
Called the “greatest disaster” of the Supreme Court.
Reconstruction Through the End of the Century (1865-1899).
Supreme Court during this time narrowly interpreted the 13th-15th amendments. -
Morrill Act
Granted large tracts of land to states; states sold land and used money for colleges -
Chinese Exclusion Act of
Ended Chinese immigration to the US -
16th amendment
gave Congress authority to set a federal income tax -
Native Americans granted citizenship
Native Americans were granted citizenship in 1924 -
20th amendment
The 20th amendment is a simple amendment that sets the dates at which federal (United States) government elected offices end. In also defines who succeeds the president if the president dies -
United States v. Miller
Ruled 2nd Amendment does not protect the right to have all types of weapons -
Minersville School District v. Gobitis
The Supreme Court ruled that a child could be expelled for refusing to salute the American flag or recite the pledge (these actions violated the child’s religious beliefs) -
Minersville School District v. Gobitis
The Supreme Court ruled that a child could be expelled for refusing to salute the American flag or recite the pledge (these actions violated the child’s religious beliefs) -
United States v. Darby
Upheld Fair Labor Standards Act; Commerce Clause allows Congress to regulate employment conditions -
Executive Order 9066
FDR required all people of Japanese descent on the West Coast to report to "War Relocation Centers" (internment camps)
120,000 left their homes and businesses and 80,000 remained in camps until the war was over.
Korematsu v. United States (1944) upheld this order. -
West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette
The court reversed itself and decided unity was not a sufficient reason to overrule religious beliefs.
Freedom of Speech and of the Press
"Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press..."
Free access to a full range of opinions, beliefs, and information is necessary to make thoughtful decisions and participate fully in the democratic process
Citizens must be able to criticize government policies and discuss them without fear of punishment. -
Korematsu v. the United States
Upheld involuntary internment of ethnically Japanese American citizens -
National Security Council
Coordinates national security policy.
Brings together the top military, foreign affairs, and intelligence officials in the administration.
Created in 1947 (Cold War). -
Cold War
The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States and their respective allies, the Eastern Bloc and the Western Bloc, after World War II. -
civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a struggle for social justice that took place mainly during the 1950s and 1960s for Black Americans to gain equal rights under the law in the United States. -
Great Society
Government program to eliminate poverty and social inequality.
Johnson created creative federalism, which released national funds to achieve national goals.
If states didn’t cooperate, they would lose federal funding. -
Edwards v. South Carolina
187 African-American students gathered at the state capitol to protest racial injustice
Students did not end the protest when police told them to and were arrested.
Court said the state had no authority to disperse the students, as they were protesting legally. -
Equal Pay Act of 1963
Established equal pay for men and women -
The civil rights act
Outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. -
Voting rights act of 1965
Literacy tests outlawed with Voting Rights Act of 1965 -
Miranda v. Arizona
Expanded rights of people accused of crimes
“Miranda Rights” -
Loving V. Virginia
Struck down all state laws banning interracial marriage -
Age Discrimination in Employment Act
Protects applicants and employees of 40+ years old from discrimination based on age in hiring, promotion, discharge, compensation, privileges, etc. of employment. -
Age Discrimination in Employment Act
Protects applicants and employees of 40+ years old from discrimination based on age in hiring, promotion, discharge, compensation, privileges, etc. of employment. -
Tinker v. Des Moines
Schools couldn’t prevent students from protesting the Vietnam War -
War Powers Resolution
President must consult with Congress before sending troops.
Congress can force the president to end use of military with a concurrent resolution -
Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1975
Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1975 prohibited banks, stores, and other businesses from preventing women from getting loans or credit. -
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 allowed Native American Groups to control federally funded programs in their communities -
Harlow v. Fitzgerald
Established the rationale for qualified immunity -
Tennessee v. Garner
Limited police use of lethal force -
Graham v. Connor
Juries must consider if the officer believed force was reasonable -
Americans with Disabilities Act
Prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
Prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. -
District of Columbia v. Heller
Ruled the 2nd Amendment protects an individual's right to keep and bear arms for self-defense -
D.C. v. Heller
Ruled 2nd Amendment right to bear arms includes the right to self defense -
McDonald v. Chicago
Ruled 2nd Amendment applies to federal, state, and local governments; upheld 2nd Amendment -
Obergefell v. Hodges
Ruled states must grant and recognize same-sex marriage -
Trump v. Hawaii
Court ruled a ban on immigration from majority-Muslim countries did not violate the Establishment Clause
