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Continental Congress Meets in Philadelphia
The Continental Congress meets to discuss relations with England and forming an army. The delegates begin foundational discussions about how to govern the 13 colonies which will result in the writing of the Articles of Confderation. -
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Evolving Constitutional Timeline
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Adoption of "United Colonies" Resolution
The Continental Congress adopts a "United Colonies" resolution that declares the 13 colonies free from British rule. This led to the development of the Articles of Confederation. -
Declaration of Independence from British Rule
The 13 colonies declare independence from British rule they considered tyrannical. -
Articles of Confederation Adopted
Under the Continental Congress the Articles of Confederation are established to govern the 13 colonies. Under it power rested primarily with the states which led to instability within the new federal government. -
The Continental Congress Adopts the Articles of Confederation
All thirteen states adopt the Articles of Confederation. -
Shays' Rebellion
Daniel Shays' led a rebellion against the collection of high taxes which ultimately failed however this is significant because it showed a major weakness of the Articles of Confederation in that the federal governement couldn't raise an army to fight a rebellion without the consent of all 13 states. -
Constitutional Convention Begins
Four years after independence from England the delegates meet to discuss the future of the 13 colonies and what central principles they will be governed under. -
Constitutional Convention - Ratification of the Constitution Begins
The intent of the convention was to amend the Articles of Confederation, but the delegates drafted the Constitution during this time. -
Early Court - Judiciary Act
The Early Court had greater power then today but suffered a number of early resignations which resulted in instability. Additionallly, it was established during this time that states could be held liable in federal court. The Judiciary Act established the federal court system envisioned in the Constitution, including a Supreme Court of seven justices as well as federal district and circuit courts. -
Bill of Rights Created
The Bill of Rights is created to slow debate from anti-federalists about the need to protect individual freedoms under the Constitution. -
Bill of Rights Ratified
The Bill of Rights is ratified ensuring protection of individual freedoms limiting the federal government's power to interfere with these freedoms. -
Marshall Court Begins
The Marshall Court's defining moment was establishing the Supreme Court's role as the final decision maker on interpreting the Constituion. -
Taney Court Begins
The Taney Court tried to balance federal and state interests. It's Dred Scott decision in which it ruled that Dred Scott was not a citizen and that the federal government couldn't ban slavery in the territories helped lead to the Civil War. -
Civil War Begins
The Civil War begins, two reasons being slavery and state vs. federal rights. -
Reconstruction Era Begins
The post-Civil War Reconstruction Era sees the enactment of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, abolishing slavery, proving equal protection to all citizens, and giving former slaves the right to vote. -
Pre-New Deal Era
During this time the court used the 14th Amendment to limit state influence over interstate commerce, and surprisingly, did not use the 14th Amendment to protect black citizens, establishing the "separate but equal doctrine" under Plessy vs. Ferguson. -
FDR Pledges the Era of a "New Deal"
After the election of Franklin Roosevelt, Congress passed and he signed sweeping "New Deal" legislation, including Social Security, the WPA, and unemployment insurance. Though the Supreme Court initially struck down many of the New Deal laws, by the late 1930's most were ruled constitutional. -
Warren Court Begins
The Warren Court era was one of expanded federal and court power and expanded civil rights. The Court, for example, ruled that segregation of schools deprives students of "equal protection under the law," and found that the Constitution includes a "right of privacy". -
Bolling v. Sharpe
Bolling v. Sharpe was a case brought to the Supreme Court because students were refused entrance to a public school that was attended only by white children. The court found that under the 5th Amendment the students were denied due process under the law. -
Brown v. Board of Education
The case determined that the case the states had been using to justify school segregation, Plessy v. Ferguson, would be overturned and that segregation of schools was unconstitutional. The court found that racial segregation in schools undermined the public education of children and contributed to discrimnation against them, violating the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. -
Brown v. Board of Education II
In 1955 districts were faced with carrying out desegregation and many districts refused to desegregate. The Supreme Court restated that discrimination in public schools is unconstitutional and established that localities needed to move toward full implementation of desegregation related to the Brown v. Board of Education decision of 1954. -
Burger Court Begins
The Burger Court decided on right to privacy issues in the case Roe vs. Wade. They found that a women's right to privacy includes the right to elect an abortion. -
Rehnquist Court Begins
During the Rehnquist Court, a number of important decisions were made that "redefine the relationship between the states and the federal government". For example, striking down an attempt by states to redefine voting boundaries. The court also made the final decision on the very close election between President George Bush and Vice President Al Gore. -
Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1
In this case, the district under scrutiny was using race as a major factor in determining where a student would be attending public school in an effort to promote racial diversity. This policy was found to be unconstituional under the Equal Protection Clause because it denied students equal protection under the law. -
Meredith v. Jefferson County Board of Education
In this case parents sued the school district over it's plan to assign students to district public schools based on race. The court found the plan to be unconstitutional because there were no other factors used other than race to determine where the student would attend school, so this practice was in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.