100 Americans Making Constitutional History: A Biographical History presents 100 profiles of the key people behind some of the most important U.S. Supreme Court cases. Edited by Melvin I. Urofsky, a respected constitutional historian, each 2,000-word profile delves into the social and political context behind landmark Court decisions. For example, while a case like Brown v. Board of Education is about an important idea the equal protection of the law at its heart it is the story of a little girl, Linda Brown, who wanted to go to a decent school near her home. The outcome is accessible and objective stories about the individuals heroes and scoundrels who fought their way to constitutional history. 100 Americans Making Constitutional History helps students understand the human side of the Supreme Court's decisions from the early republic to the present. Each biographical profile, written by a constitutional scholar or legal analyst, includes a discussion about the Court decision and how the specific legal issues evolved into great constitutional questions and drama. It puts a face and history to major cases by reminding the reader that there are people behind them, seeking vindication of their individual liberties and civil rights. Each profile includes a brief bibliography for further research. Excellent for undergraduate students studying American government, American history, Constitutional Law and journalism. Sample List of Litigants Larry Flynt- Hustler Magazine, Inc. v. Falwell (1988) Elmer Gertz- Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc. (1974) Demetrio Rodriguez- Rodriguez v. San Antonio Independent School District (1973) Curt Flood- Flood v. Kuhn (1972) Estelle Griswold- Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) Linda Brown- Brown v. Board of Education (1954) Gordon Hirabayashi- Hirabayashi v. United states (1943) Eugene Debs- Debs v. United states (1919) William Marbury- Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Historically, U.S. citizens have accepted most Supreme Court decisions without protest, but there have also been rulings that have aroused public anger, condemnation and defiance. These public reactions and the debates they have inspired have helped shape the social and political character of the nation. The Public Debate Over Controversial Supreme Court Decisions explores public reaction to over forty of the most well known and contentious cases ruled upon by the Court. The renowned cases covered begin with those from early in U.S. history, such as McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) and the Dred Scott decision (1857), to recent cases that have fanned the flames of debate over current highly-charged issues such as abortion (Roe v. Wade, 1973) and homosexual rights (Lawrence v. Texas, 2003). The book presents information through a unique integration of essays and primary source documents that bring both context and a sense of immediacy to the cases discussed. Each case entry includes: An informative introductory essay that explains: The facts of the case; The Court's ruling and its importance; A brief overview of the scope and magnitude of public response, with narrative thread tying together primary sources. Primary source selections from a wide range of public responses, including: Newspapers and magazines; Public opinion polls; Letters written about the case and to the justices; Comments or speeches made by presidents, members of Congress, and other public figures. The Public Debate Over Controversial Supreme Court Decisions is designed to fit into high school social studies and college curriculums. Public libraries will want this resource in their collections for any patrons who want to learn about the importance of these controversial cases in their own lives as citizens.

A Publication of the Supreme Court Historical Society Preface by Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist Few decisions in constitutional law have had as dramatic an impact on American life as Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas (1954). This collection of essays published by the Supreme Court Historical Society and CQ Press to commemorate Brown's 50th anniversary, captures the complex history and legacy of the decision that changed public education and race relations in America. Leading constitutional scholars chronicle the path of the law from Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) legitimating "separate but equal" in all realms of public life to Brown holding segregated schools to be "inherently unequal" in 1954. The essays in Black, White and Brown examine: How civil rights litigators chipped away at the logic underpinning the separate-but-equal doctrine, focusing their greatest efforts on exposing the injustice of segregation in education. These essays bring that struggle into clearer focus. The challenges in enforcing Brown and its impact on African-American rights and race relations in America. How public and scholarly opinion about the case has changed over the last five decades and what lessons can be learned from Brown. The role that the lawsuit played in the lives of some of the litigants, the justices, the law clerks, and the attorneys who argued the case. High school students and educators will find a lively, easy-to-read collection that makes the complex constitutional and social issues comprehensible. For educators, the volume includes an essay that traces the best methods and resources for teaching the case in the classroom. Also included are a bibliographic essay, index to aid further research, and nine pages of illustrations.