Article
US Department of State

America.gov: The Right to Legal Counsel: The Gideon v. Wainwright Decision

For Students 9th - 10th
This article provides an overview of the right to legal representation for the poor and Chief Justice Black's opinion in the precedent-setting case.
Website
Other

Byron White

For Students 9th - 10th
Biography on Byron White, Supreme Court Justice and former professional football player. Born in Colorado in 1917, he was appointed to the Supreme Court by President John Kennedy and was involved in some very famous decisions, including...
Handout
PBS

Pbs News Hour: Justice Harry Blackmun

For Students 9th - 10th
A page consisting of links to many accounts and opinions on the life, career, and decisions of Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun.
Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Mc Culloch v. Maryland

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about this landmark Supreme Court case on the issues of federal power and commerce. Provides an image of a document from the case files and a transcript of the opinion delivered in 1819 by Chief Justice John Marshall.
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Judicial Review

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson explores the case that established the power the Supreme Court has today. Students will learn how the decision in Marbury v. Madison influenced the structure of the third branch, and how the Court's use of judicial review can...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Now With Bill Moyers: You Be the Judge

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Study and evaluate a recent U.S. Supreme Court case that reviews jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act and assesses environmental and business interests. Research and debate a case argument, and analyze case information in order to make a...
Lesson Plan
University of California

History Project: Fdr and Courtpacking

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson provides the background for the decision by President Roosevelt to attempt to expand the number of Supreme Court justices from nine to twelve. Students are to use sections from provided primary source documents to analyze the...
Activity
Illinois Institute of Technology

Oyez Project: Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

For Students 9th - 10th
The U.S. Supreme Court case that upheld the famous "separate but equal" doctrine by dealing with the issues of racial discrimination and equal protection. This resource provides an abstract containing a concise summary and a link to the...
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...
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...
Activity
Illinois Institute of Technology

Oyez: Schechter Poultry Corp. V. United States (1935)

For Students 9th - 10th
This U.S. Supreme Court case declared the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) of the New Deal illegal because of the issue of separation of powers. The 'Case Basics' links have documents and more information from the court case.
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.
Handout
Illinois Institute of Technology

Oyez Project: Mc Culloch v. Maryland (1819)

For Students 9th - 10th
The Supreme Court ruling in this landmark case declared that states could not tax federal institutions.
Activity
Curated OER

National Park Service: Brown v. Board of Education

For Students 9th - 10th
The National Park Service provides backgroud on the historic U.S. Supreme Court racial segregation case, Brown vs. Board of Education. Includes a link to a PDF on related historical places (requires Adobe Reader).
Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: American Historama: Brown vs Board of Education

For Students 9th - 10th
Comprehensive overview and detailed facts about Brown vs Board of Education, a 1954 Supreme Court case won by NAACP lawyer Thurgood Marshall against school segregation.
Activity
Other

A Guide to Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier

For Students 9th - 10th
This site has A Complete Guide to the Supreme Court Decision for this Supreme Court case. It can be downloaded as a PDF file. The article explains many different aspects of the case, including What the Decision Says, What the Decision...
Handout
Other

Lacba: Dueling Federalisms

For Students 9th - 10th
Article examining rulings by the Supreme Court and Chief William Rehnquist over the meaning of the Tenth Amendment. The author contends that Supreme Court decisions have favored states' rights over federal rights, and cites several cases...
Website
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: The Fourteenth Amendment Part Ii

For Students 9th - 10th
In this video segment from The Supreme Court, learn about the 1883 Supreme Court decision that marked the end of federal protections for individuals in states and the beginning of Jim Crow segregation.
Lesson Plan
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Constitutional Rights Foundation: Gibbons v. Ogden (1824): The Meaning of the Commerce Clause [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Lesson on the Constitution in which students study and analyze the Commerce Clause and the Supreme Court decision in Gibbons v. Ogden. Questions for discussion and guidelines for class activity provided.
Article
Virginia Historical Society

Virginia Historical Society: Massive Resistance

For Students 9th - 10th
A chilling account of the ways Virginia lawmakers attempted to subvert the Supreme Court decision in Brown v Board of Education in 1958. Read about the Southern Manifesto, and the group of laws known as Massive Resistance.
Primary
NBC

Nbc Learn: Finishing the Dream

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection of over one hundred archival video clips highlighting significant events in the history of the Civil Rights Movement since the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision in 1954. There are ten collections covering...
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: John Marshall, Marbury v. Madison, and Judicial Review

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this lesson plan, students will consider "John Marshall, Marbury v. Madison, and Judicial Review-How the Court Became Supreme." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
Activity
University of Missouri

Exploring Constitutional Conflicts: Separate but Equal

For Students 9th - 10th
This site gives an interesting look at the idea of "Separate but Equal" and the court's eventual reversal of its decision on it.
Article
Lectric Law Library

Proving Business Necessity: Disparate Impact

For Students 9th - 10th
A 1971 Supreme Court Case, "Griggs Decision" presents the higher court's decision and findings on the impact and assessing of legality of employment practices that create disparity.