AP US History – Supreme Court Cases

- Situation: Land speculators bribed legislators to approve a land, the public wanted land back, and (although the deal was tainted) there was a contract.- Constitutional Issue: Can a state void a legal contract?- Finding of the Court: States cannot void a legal contract- Impact of the Decision: Further protects property rights; the Supreme Court can invalidate a state action that conflicts with the Constitution

- Situation: Maryland wanted to tax bank notes, which could destroy a branch of the national bank- Constitutional Issue: Can a state oppose a national bank?- Finding of the Court: The state must follow the federal government, and the state cannot tax a national bank- Impact of the Decision: Enlarges federal power (at the expense of the states)

- Situation: New Hampshire wanted to make the private Dartmouth College a state university- Constitutional Issue: Do states have the right to nullify the obligations of a contract?- Finding of the Court: Unconstitutional - the state cannot take over and void a private contract- Impact of the Decision: Asserted that the state does not have the power to become involved in private business matters and contracts; reasserted federal control over some actions of the state

- Situation: Cohens was found guilty by the state court of VA of selling lottery tickets illegally- Constitutional Issue: Which court holds precedence?- Finding of the Court: The conviction was upheld- Impact of the Decision: Asserted that the Supreme Court is stronger than the state courts

- Situation: NY wanted to issue a steamboat license to allow Ogden to go between NY and NJ (giving NY a monopoly on the area), and Gibbons had been doing so without a license.

- Constitutional Issue: Does navigation count as "commerce," and can Congress therefore regulate it? Do both the federal and state government have power?- Finding of the Court: The "commerce" encompasses 'navigation;' Only Congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce- Impact of the Decision: Broadened the meaning of "commerce;" Officially asserted/gave Congress the power to regulate commerce; reasserted federal power over state power

- Situation: Dred Scott, a slave bought by a military, had been to, lived in, and partook in activites not normally allowed for slaves, in free states. His master had to return to slave states, and let Scott stay in the free states When his former master died, his wife wanted him to come back and serve her. He tried to buy his freedom, but she refused- Constitutional Issue: Can freed slaves count as citizens?- Finding of the Court: People held as slaves are not citizens and cannot be protected by the Constitution- Impact of the Decision: Reasserted that slaves were not citizens