Unit One: Federal Courts in History

Beginning with Marbury v. Madisonin 1803, the Supreme Court has taken on the responsibility of interpreting the law--and the Supreme law of the land is the Constitution. In each of the following cases, the role asssumed by the Court has shaped the course of history.

	Marbury v. Madison (1803)
	Essay: Marbury v. Madison, by Gordon Lloyd, Ph.D. DBQ: Marbury v. Madison (1803)
	Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)
	Essay: Dred Scott v. Sanford, by Gordon Lloyd, Ph.D. DBQ: Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)
	United States v. Nixon (1974)
	Essay: United States v. Nixon, by Gordon Lloyd, Ph.D. DBQ: United States v. Nixon (1974)