Interactive Timeline

This interactive timeline was designed to provide introductory information for each of the cases featured in Supreme Court DBQ: Exploring the Cases that Changed History. Click here to go to the timeline.

Teaching suggestions for the Interactive Timeline:

• As an introductory activity, have students view the timeline individually. Then ask them to select one or two cases which interest them the most. They should then write down 3-4 questions they have about the cases they selected. Have them share their questions with the class, and brainstorm ways they could find out more about the cases.
• Put students in pairs or trios and have groups view the timeline together. Ask them to answer the following questions on their own paper:
  • What trends do you see in the types of cases being heard by the Court?
  • Why do you think the Court heard fewer cases in the early decades of the republic?
• Have students read the case summaries for individual cases and summarize the information for each case on index cards. Then use the index cards to create a timeline in your classroom.
• Put students in pairs or trios and assign them each a unit. Have them read the case information for each unit and then present what they learned to the class in an oral report.