Winter Break Project 2015

CLICK HERE for a Google Docs Version of this post

Learning Target: After completing an internet based exercise, students will analyze, and evaluate the effects of Landmark Supreme Court Cases

Point Value: 100 points (same as a test)

Background

From its first case in 1803 (Marbury v. Madison), the Supreme Court has become a very powerful force in American life and culture. Of the three branches, the decisions of the Supreme Court, through a process known as Judicial Review, have arguably the most direct impact on the day-to-day lives of the American people. As a result of this project,  you and your classmates will gain a greater understanding of the court’s impact on your life

What do I Have to do?

I.  You will research several important Supreme Court cases.  For each case you must be able to discuss the:

1. Facts and Details: When did it take place? Where? Who was involved? How did it get to the Supreme Court?
2. The Conflict: In other words, why did this case reach the Supreme Court in the first place?  Was there a law, or action of the federal, or state government that was being challenged?  What right, or civil liberty is being challenged?  For example in the case of Tinker v. Des Moines, a students’ right to free expression under the First Amendment was questioned.  
3. The Outcome of the Case: How did the SC rule? Why did they rule this way?
4. The importance of the case: How did the ruling affect the lives of Americans? Did it limit, or expand the civil rights of Americans? Did people have MORE freedom because of the court's decision, or LESS freedom?  Did this case EXPAND, or LIMIT the POWER of the Government?    

II.  After completing your research, you will arrange your findings in a table or chart.

III.  The Cases:  

Expansion of Power of The Federal Government:
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

Expansion of Individual Rights:
Brown v. Board of Edcuation (1954)
Mapp v. Ohio (1961)
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)
Roe v. Wade (1973)

Limiting of Individual Rights:
Dred Scott v. Sanford (1856)
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
Schenck v. United States (1919)
Korematsu v. United States (1944)
Nixon v. United States (1974)

Power of Government:
Wabash Railway v. Illinois (1886)
US v. EC Knight (1895)
Muller v. Oregon (1908)
Schechter Poultry v. US (1935)
Escobedo v. Illinois (1964)  

IV. Resources
Bill of Rights Institute
Mr. Nassivera’s Site - Landmark Cases
HipHughes - “Supreme Court Cases for Dummies”
Hip Hughes - “The Warren Court in Ten Minutes”
HipHughes - “The Dred Scott Decision”
Hip Hughes - “The Exclusionary Rule”
PBS - Landmark Cases
YouTube playlist - “Supreme Court Cases”

Here's a link to the videos on Google.

Here's a link to the Vimeo Playlist for the videos.