History of the Supreme Court
A 225-Year Legacy
Welcome to the Supreme Court Historical Society's CIVICS website which houses free, downloadable curriculum resources for educators, students, and life-long learners. Learn about the history and cases of the Supreme Court of the United States by historical era and gain insights into key figures associated with the Court. New eras will be launched each year.
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Travel Through Supreme Court History
Click on the links to dig deeper into historical eras, cases, people, and other resources.
Affirming Judicial Independence
Explore the EraThrough a series of landmark decisions, the Justices of the Marshall Court affirmed the judicial independence of the federal courts, the authority of the Supreme Court, and ensured that the Judicial Branch was an equal branch of the federal government.
The longest-serving Chief Justice in U.S. history, John is greatly admired for his allegiance to the United States. He is revered for expertly guiding legal institutions to protect the United States as it grew and developed into a successful republic.