Reflect on the information you read in Ch. 1 of Constitutional Law: Governmental Powers and Individual Freedoms.
Consider the following eras of the Supreme Court:
• Early Court
• Marshall Court
• Taney Court
• Reconstruction Era
• Pre-New Deal Era
• New Deal Era
• Warren Court
• Burger Court
• Rehnquist Court
• Roberts Court
Choose 2 of the eras and write a reflection of 175 to 350 words on your thoughts on the significance of these eras of the Supreme Court.
Consider the impact they made on the U.S. judicial system and include this in your reflection.
Review the “Road to the U.S. Constitution” for a brief overview of what led to the creation of the United States Constitution.
Create a timeline using MS PowerPoint or Word that puts five events, policies, and laws that led to the development of the United States Constitution in order (e.g., July 4, 1776: Declaration of Independence – a document that details what it means to be an American and what our government stands for).
Include a date, title, and description for each event, policy, or law.
Note: You will add more information to this timeline in Week 2.
Consider the following as you create your timeline:
• The ideas and events that led to the development of the United States Constitution
• The impact of the Articles of Confederation on the United States Constitution
• The importance of the United States Constitution as an evolving document and how it’s amended
Review the resource “Create a Timeline” that lists the steps to create a timeline using MS PowerPoint.
Part 2: Summary
Write a 350- to 525-word summary in which you:
• Discuss the transition of the Articles of Confederation to the current United States Constitution and why this transition was necessary.
• Describe how the Constitution is an evolving document.
• Describe the Constitution amendment process.
Sample Answer
Reflection on Supreme Court Eras
I've chosen the Marshall Court and the Warren Court as two eras that fundamentally shaped the U.S. judicial system and constitutional law.
Marshall Court (1801–1835)
The Marshall Court, led by Chief Justice John Marshall, is arguably the most foundational era in U.S. constitutional history. Its significance lies in establishing the Supreme Court as a co-equal branch of government and defining the core powers of the federal government. The single most impactful decision was Marbury v. Madison (1803), which established the doctrine of Judicial Review. This power—the ability of the Supreme Court to declare acts of the legislative and executive branches unconstitutional—is not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution but became the central mechanism by which the Court oversees the rule of law.
Furthermore, Marshall's decisions consistently upheld the supremacy of federal law over state laws and broadly interpreted the scope of Congressional power, particularly through the Necessary and Proper Clause and the Commerce Clause. Key cases like McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) (affirming implied powers and federal supremacy) and Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) (broadly defining the Commerce Clause) paved the way for future federal regulation and national economic integration. The Marshall Court cemented the federal government's authority, making it a truly national entity rather than a loose confederation of states.
Warren Court (1953–1969)
The Warren Court is renowned for its revolutionary impact on individual rights and civil liberties. Often characterized as a period of "judicial activism," this era utilized the Constitution—specifically the Fourteenth Amendment (Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses)—to protect marginalized groups and expand personal freedoms. Its significance lies in its vigorous application of the Bill of Rights to state action through the doctrine of incorporation.
Landmark decisions profoundly reformed the American legal and social landscape:
Brown v. Board of Education (1954): Declared state-sponsored segregation in public schools unconstitutional, overturning Plessy v. Ferguson.
Mapp v. Ohio (1961): Applied the Exclusionary Rule (evidence obtained illegally cannot be used in court) to the states.
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963): Guaranteed the right to counsel in state felony cases.
Miranda v. Arizona (1966): Established the requirement for law enforcement to inform suspects of their constitutional rights ("Miranda Rights").
The Warren Court fundamentally reshaped criminal procedure and accelerated the Civil Rights Movement. Its legacy is a judicial system that places stringent requirements on government action when individual freedoms are at stake, transforming the relationship between the citizen and the state.