Alexander Hamilton, the subject of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s eponymous Broadway show, influenced the drafting the United States Constitution, ensured its ratification, and helped to save the fledgling nation from financial ruin. Learn more about Hamilton’s role at the Constitutional Convention, New York Ratifying Convention, and in drafting the famous Federalist Papers by exploring historical documents in the ConSource digital library.
Judicial Appointments under the United States Constitution
Explore historical sources related to judicial appointments under the United States Constitution. A great resource to use during Supreme Court nomination debates to illustrate the original conflicts over the court and contextualize contemporary issues.
Brown v. Board of Education (1954) High School Level
This case summary provides teachers with everything they need to teach about Brown v. Board of Education (1954). It contains background information in the form of summaries and important vocabulary at three different reading levels, as well a review of relevant legal concepts, diagram of how the case moved through the court system, and summary of the decision. This resource also includes nine classroom-ready activities that teach about the case using interactive methods. Middle school level also available.
Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) Middle School Level
This case summary provides teachers with everything they need to teach about Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857). It contains background information in the form of summaries and important vocabulary at three different reading levels, as well a review of relevant legal concepts, diagram of how the case moved through the court system, and summary of the decision. This resource also includes five classroom-ready activities that teach about the case using interactive methods. High school level also available.
Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) Middle School Level
This case summary provides teachers with everything they need to teach about Gibbons v. Ogden (1824). It contains background information in the form of summaries and important vocabulary at three different reading levels, as well a review of relevant legal concepts, diagram of how the case moved through the court system, and summary of the decision. This resource also includes five classroom-ready activities that teach about the case using interactive methods. High school level also available.
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) Middle School Level
Does the Sixth Amendment’s right to counsel in criminal cases extend to defendants in state courts, even in cases in which the death penalty is not at issue? High school level also available.
This case summary provides teachers with everything they need to teach about Gideon v. Wainwright (1963). It contains background information in the form of summaries and important vocabulary at three different reading levels, as well a review of relevant legal concepts, diagram of how the case moved through the court system, and summary of the decision. This resource also includes nine classroom-ready activities that teach about the case using interactive methods.
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) Middle School Level
Did Congress have the authority under the Constitution to commission a national bank? If so, did the state of Maryland have the authority to tax a branch of the national bank operating within its borders? High school level also available.
This case summary provides teachers with everything they need to teach about McCulloch v. Maryland (1819). It contains background information in the form of summaries and important vocabulary at three different reading levels, as well a review of relevant legal concepts, diagram of how the case moved through the court system, and summary of the decision. This resource also includes seven classroom-ready activities that teach about the case using interactive methods.
Alabama v. Shelton (2002)
Does the Sixth Amendment right to appointed counsel apply to a defendant who was sentenced to a suspended sentence? This case summary shows how the Supreme Court answered that question in 2002.
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
This case summary provides teachers with everything they need to teach about Miranda v. Arizona (1966). It contains background information in the form of summaries and important vocabulary at three different reading levels, as well a review of relevant legal concepts, diagram of how the case moved through the court system, and summary of the decision. This resource also includes ten classroom-ready activities that teach about the case using interactive methods.
New Jersey v. T.L.O. (1985)
This case summary provides teachers with everything they need to teach about New Jersey v. T.L.O. (1985). It contains background information in the form of summaries and important vocabulary at three different reading levels, as well a review of relevant legal concepts, diagram of how the case moved through the court system, and summary of the decision. This resource also includes seven classroom-ready activities that teach about the case using interactive methods.