Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Us History: 1945 1980: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
Learn about the Supreme Court ruling that outlawed school segregation in the United States.
Social Studies for Kids
Social Studies for Kids: Thurgood Marshall: Civil Rights Advocate
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.
Siteseen
Siteseen: American Historama: Roe v Wade
Detailed facts and interesting information about the 1973 landmark Supreme Court decision in the case of Roe v. Wade which ruled that state governments could not regulate abortion during the first three months until the end of the first...
Illinois Institute of Technology
Oyez: Everson v. Board of Education
Brief account of the Everson v. Board of Education Supreme Court case. Gives dates, facts, questions, and conclusion.
A&E Television
History.com: How the u.s. Constitution Has Changed and Expanded Since 1787
Through amendments and legal rulings, the Constitution has transformed in some critical ways. The U.S. Constitution, written in 1787 and ratified by nine of the original 13 states a year later, is the world's longest-surviving written...
A&E Television
History.com: Minimum Wage in America: A Timeline
Since 1938, the U.S. federal government has established that workers are entitled to a base hourly wage. Which workers receive that minimum -- and how much -- has remained a political issue.
Other
Lacba: Dueling Federalisms
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...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Brown Reactions: Black Educators
This 1954 statement, issued by a group of black educators, strongly endorses the Supreme Court's Brown ruling.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Documenting Brown: Brown v Board of Education, 1954
The Supreme Court's landmark opinion overturned its earlier ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson and declared segregated schools unconstitutional.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Documenting Brown: Plessy v. Ferguson
The Supreme Court's 1896 ruling legalized the "separate but equal" doctrine that sanctioned segregation.
Other
Teach Us History: Indian Removal
A instructional activity unit that looks at the efforts of the Cherokee Nation in Georgia between 1817 and 1827 to establish their own system of governance and to keep their lands from being ceded. Even though the Supreme Court...
OpenStax
Open Stax: The Dred Scott Decision and Sectional Strife
By reading this section from a chapter on "The Tumultuous 1850s," students will understand the importance of the Supreme Court's Dred Scott ruling and be able to discuss the principles of the Republican Party as expressed by Abraham...
PBS
Now With Bill Moyers: Campaign Finance (Lesson Plan)
A lesson that takes learners through the process of examining the finances of political campaigns. They will review internal documents to determine if wealthy contributors buy government influence, assess the pros and cons of campaign...
Siteseen
Siteseen: American Historama: Dred Scott Decision
Comprehensive summary provides a list of interesting facts and information about the Dred Scott decision that ruled slaves were property.
CNN
Cnn: Seeking to Preserve Miranda Warnings
An CNN news article discussing whether or not the Miranda rulings should be kept entact.
Library of Congress
Loc: Herblock's Gift
An overview of Herb Block's Editorial Cartoons which were gifted to the Library of Congress. The archive includes records, clippings, photographs and various articles as well as 14,000 original drawings.
US Government Publishing Office
U.s. Government Publishing Office: Our American Government, 2000 Edition
A popular introductory guide for American citizens and those of other countries who seek a greater understanding of our heritage of democracy. The question-and-answer format covers a broad range of topics dealing with the legislative,...
Other
Landmark Cases: Mapp v. Ohio (1961)
A very comprehensive resource for reading all about this landmark case. It includes all the judicial opinions, background summary, and teacher directed activities.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: The Preamble
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...
Illinois Institute of Technology
The Oyez Project: Shelley v. Kraemer
Provides facts about the Supreme Court case Shelley v. Kraemer, including an abstract, links to written opinions of the Court, and how each of the nine justices ruled upon the case.
Other
Syracuse University: Project Legal: Compu Legal: Feiner v New York
This site contains information and the court ruling in the Supreme Court case of Feiner v. New York. Includes a cartoon about the case. Follow through the tutorial to eventually come to the outcome of the case.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Making of African American Identity: Segregation
A Supreme Court decision, a chapter from a novel, and an editorial that explore segregation in late-nineteenth-century America. This resource focuses primarily on Plessy v. Ferguson, and the complexities that followed from this ruling.
Georgia Humanities Council and the University of Georgia Press.
New Georgia Encyclopedia: Worcester v. Georgia (1832)
Discussion of the lawsuit filed by Samuel Worcester against the state of Georgia protesting the way the state handled the Cherokee lands. The case went to the Supreme Court where although Chief Justice Marshall ruled in favor of the...
Other
Amnesty International Usa: Abolish the Death Penalty
A new look at the Gregg v. Georgia ruling by the Supreme Court that reinstated the death penalty in the United States. Has it lived up to its original purpose? Here's Amnesty International's viewpoint.