Making the States Comply with the Bill of Rights

  • Period: to

    Due Process Clause

    The United States Supreme Court began to apply the guarantees of the Bill of Rights to the states. The Court based its actions on the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
  • Series of Cases

    Series of Cases
    Supreme Court gradually began using the due process clause to say that states could not abridge a right that the national government could not abridge.
  • Supreme Court Case

    Supreme Court Case
    Court ruled that the freedom of the press offered by the national Bill of Rights had to be every state as well.
  • Case of 1934

    Case of 1934
    Supreme Court ruled that freedom of religion provided for in the First Amendment had to be provided by all states.
  • Period: to

    The 1960's

    Supreme Court broadened its interpretations to limit state action in most areas in which national government action is limited. These areas included the Fourth Amendment prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures, the Fifth amendment prohibition against compulsory seld-incrimination, and the Eighth Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishments