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Dred Scott vs. Sanford 1856
Dred Scott was a black slave who had lived with his master for five years in Illinois and Wisconsin territory, where slavery was prohibited due to the Missouri Compromise. When his owner, Emerson, died in 1843, Scott sought to buy his freedom, but Emerson's wife refused. Consequently, he sued for his freedom on the basis of his long residence in free a free territory. The Dred Scott court decision was handed down by the Supreme Court on March 6,1857. The Supreme Court ruled Americans of African descent, whether free or slaves, were not a citizen. Hence, they could not sue in federal court. |
Ex parte Milligan (1866)
Lambdin P. Milligan had been arrested in 1864, charged with conspiring to free Confederate prisoners, and inciting insurrection. He was tried by a military court established in Indiana under the authority of President Abraham Lincoln, found guilty, and sentenced to hang. Milligan's lawyer thought this to be unconstitutional. The case eventually reached the Supreme Court, which unanimously ruled that the federal government could not establish military courts to try civilians unless civil courts were no longer functioning. Milligan was freed after 18 months in jail.
Munn v. Illinois, (1877)
The state of Illinois imposed caps on the maximum price the owners of grain elevators could charge. Munn argued that such regulation denied them their equal protection under the 14th Amendment. The Supreme Court disagreed, establishing that private property can be regulated when is has an impact on the general wellbeing of the public. The supreme court decision stated that states can regulate business when it is in the interest of the public good.
The state of Illinois imposed caps on the maximum price the owners of grain elevators could charge. Munn argued that such regulation denied them their equal protection under the 14th Amendment. The Supreme Court disagreed, establishing that private property can be regulated when is has an impact on the general wellbeing of the public. The supreme court decision stated that states can regulate business when it is in the interest of the public good.
Court Case Decisions
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Charles River Bridge decision (Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge, 1837) Chief Justice Roger B. Taney stated that the Constitution reserved to the states "power over their own improvement, which is so necessary to their well-being and prosperity." Encouraged economic development in transportation and other public facilities by ending monopolies. |
Commonwealth v. Hunt
The U.S. Supreme Court overuled a Massachustetts Supreme Court decision and asseted that trade unions were legal and that they had the right to strike or take other steps of peacuful coercion to raise wages and ban non-union workers
The U.S. Supreme Court overuled a Massachustetts Supreme Court decision and asseted that trade unions were legal and that they had the right to strike or take other steps of peacuful coercion to raise wages and ban non-union workers