Push & Pull: Annotated Timeline

  • Articles of Confederation

    While the Articles first created an increase of state power as they left most powers reserved to the states, it showed the apparent need of a stronger federal government through the weakness of this form of government; inherently increasing the power of the federal government.
  • Supremacy Clause

    States that federal laws are the supreme law of the land as well as the supreme court's rulings are the ultimate rulings. This gave increased power to the federal government by literally stating that they are supreme in all rulings and laws.
  • Constitutional Convention

    Met in order to create a stronger government after the failures of the Articles of Confederation. While it was obvious that a stronger federal government was needed (and one was created), the anti-federalists ensured that the states withheld some power to prevent a tyranny.
  • Commerce Clause

    The commerce clause allowed for federal control of interstate commerce and commerce with foreign nations and indian tribes. This shows an increase of federal power as it shows the enumerated power of the federal government to control trade between states especially.
  • Necessary and Proper Clause

    This clause created the implied powers, or the power of the federal government to create any law that they deem necessary and proper in order to enforce their enumerated powers listed in the constitution. This is increased federal power as it literally states that they have the power to make any law that they feel is necessary.
  • 10th Amendment

    All powers not expressly given to the federal government are reserved for the states. This caused an increase of state power as there were very few enumerated powers listed in the Constitution in the scheme if things.
  • McCulloch v. Maryland

    The court used the Necessary and Proper Clause to further structure the implied powers of the federal government and that states cannot impede valid exercises by federal government. This court case was really strongly the federal government asserting power over states and strengthening their powers.
  • Gibbons vs. Ogden

    Ruled that Congress' rights to regulate interstate commerce, based off the commerce clause is supreme over state's power to regulate navigation, thus giving more sovereignty to the federal government.
  • Dred Scott v. Sandford

    It held that a black person whose ancestors were slaves, whether they themselves enslaved or free, could not be an American citizen and therefore had no standing to sue in federal court. The federal government had no power to regulate slavery in the federal territories acquired after the creation of the United States.
  • Civil War

    The Civil War showed that the states still had power despite the growing power of the federal government, as the southern states seceded from the country due to dissatisfaction with the federal government.
  • 14th Amendment

    This amendment was ratified after the close of the Civil War in regards to former slaves. It ensures equal protection for all people under the law. This gave an increase of power to the federal government as they placed this regulation for all states and all people.
  • Plessy v. Ferguson

    Said that segregation was legal if facilities and treatment was "separate but equal". While a federally implied ruling, this gave states more power as they were in charge of regulating whether it was truly separate but equal, often times was not.
  • Pure Food and Drug Act

    Banned foreign and interstate traffic in altered or mislabeled food and drug products. This showed increased federal power as the federal government was now putting regulations on food quality that later led to Food and Drug Administration.
  • 16th Amendment

    Congress can tax income. This increased power of the federal government because it furthered the extent of Article 1, Section 9 that states that the federal government can lay taxes.
  • Gitlow v. New York

    This ruled that the fourteenth amendment extended to also include the federal government's inability to discriminate against speech/opinion, thus weakening the federal government's power.
  • The New Deal

    Focused on the three R's: Relief, Recovery, and Reform. This exemplified an increase of federal power as Roosevelt presented changes upon the federal government in order to improve conditions of the country after the Great Depression.
  • Brown v. Board of Education

    Unconstitutional for states to create separate schools for black and white students. This overturned Plessy v. Ferguson and the separate but equal verdict as it was never truly equal. This limited state powers and gave more power to the federal government as they decided that the states do not have the power to make these regulations regarding race and schooling.
  • Civil Rights Act of 1964

    This act prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or ethnicity. This showed increased federal power by outlawing discrimination across all states borders despite any given states grievances on the act.
  • Roe v. Wade

    Issued that under the 14th amendment women should be granted privacy in matters of abortion but also set state regulations on the term sin which abortion is legal in regards to mother safety and potentiality of human life. While this increased federal power in the extension of the 14th amendment, it also increased states power in their regulation of abortion.
  • Election of Ronald Reagan

    Ronald Reagan claimed that the federal government was impeding on people's rights and proposed stronger state sovereignty. While he was proposing stronger state control, he was enacting some federal power in stating the change that needs to occur and possibly using federal power to give the states more power..
  • Americans with Disabilities Act

    This act prohibits unjust discrimination of people with disabilities; similar to the rights that are ensured in the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This shows increased federal power as they showed sovereignty in ensuring the people's rights by passing this act.
  • 104th Congress

    The legislative branch of the federal government met from 1995-1997 under a majority Republican consensus to discuss legislation including a budget impasse between Democratic Clinton and Republican congress that resulted in the federal government shutdown of 1995 and 1996. This suspended nonessential government workers on furlough. This showed increased government power as they stopped funding many programs with the federal budget.
  • United States v. Lopez

    Put limits on congress' powers given in the commerce clause. It is beyond congress' power to regulate control over public schools. He could not be charged under the Commerce Clause.
  • Printz v. United States

    Established unconstitutionality of some of the provisions in the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act. Basically states that in some cases the states courts cannot adequately handle situations and must rely on federal government to fix problems once addressed by these lower courts or individual court cases.
  • United States v. Morrison

    Held that parts of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 were unconstitutional because they exceeded congressional power under the Commerce Clause and under section 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution.This put limits on federal government as it removed some of their congressional power granted under the Commerce Clause.