Thurgood Marshall Research Paper

Supreme court, was often considered the only option for organisations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured Peoples (NAACP), however this was always a lengthy process. Although it was the most lenient of federal systems to African American civil rights and the most subject to change. Between 1937 and 1941, seven of the nine justices were changed my Roosevelt causing verdicts for blacks to begin to change. Many trials were carried out in this period that actually allowed African Americans to make advances with civil rights like the Linda Brown case of 1954, which ended segregation in schools.

The late 1700s and early 1800s was a critical time period in American history in which our newly independent nation was beginning to lay down the groundwork for how the country would run. During this time, America was in its infancy and its crucial first steps would dictate how the nation would either walk, run, or retreat. John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the Unites States, was a highly important and influential political figure whose decisions forever molded the future of the American judicial system. Like many other great political figures, much of John Marshall’s influence can be attributed to timing; he emerged just as the United States Constitution came into existence.

Marshall will be remembered for all his efforts in trying to put an end to racial segregation. He spent considerable time to work the Supreme Court to end the lasting legacy of slavery in the US. Quite evidently, he worked for the good of American society. Thurgood never wanted to lead protests but to peaceably pioneer civil rights movements. He found he was achieving a long-held ambition which placed him in the lead of the social revolution to end racial segregation. (4, 67) For this reason his life became very important in shaping the American society today. He also did many important things as a judge. He fought for individual rights and equality. His efforts helped to put an end to all racial segregation and discrimination against all African Americans in this country. Marshall did not only fight for equality in his fellow Africans, but also put important decisions as a Supreme Court judge regarding the environment, the right of appeal of people convicted of drug charges, failure to report for and to serve in the armed forces, and the rights of the Native Americans – only to state a few.

In the postwar years, the NAACP's legal strategy for civil rights continued to succeed. They were now led by Thurgood Marshall. The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on five cases that challenged elementary- and secondary-school segregation, and in May

The 14th Chief Justice of the U.S Supreme Court, Earl Warren changed the course the nation through landmark decisions that reflected progressive thinking. With Warren in charge, the Court brought about a significant amount of social change, rooted in establishing racial equality and protecting civil liberties. Despite being nominated on the basis of his conservative governorship, Earl Warren’s s nomination for Chief Justice gave him a new perspective, especially on crime. He now viewed the Court as a protector of the public, and with astounding leadership brought the Court to a consensus in many landmark decisions such as Brown v. Board of Education (1954), Mapp v. Ohio (1961), and Gideon v. Wainwright (1963).

Being the only dissenting justice in the case Plessy v. Ferguson Justice Harlan spoke of a constitution that did not see a difference between its citizens. That the constitution provides equality for all, that it is color blind in fact he stated that “Our Constitution is colorblind, and neither knows nor tolerates classes among citizens” . These words would make Justice Harlan a hero in the eyes of many he stood up for those who couldn’t and he stood alone. However, what many people don’t realize is that these words were not simply stated by a Supreme Court Justice. But by a Supreme Court Justice who was a former slaveholder, who at one point did not recognize nor respect the Emancipation Proclamation and a judge who also refused to recognize or the Thirteenth

Oliver Brown stood as the representative plaintiff in the case Brown vs. Borad of Education. He felt so strong about segregated shools, becuase his daughter was denied entrance of a whiteschool located in Topeka Kasas. Although many people dealt with the

Marshall complained that the Constitution is the “supreme law of the land” and that the Supreme Court ultimately has the final say so when it comes to evaluating the meaning of the Constitution. Marshall states, “ lt is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is.” To present Marshall’s initial plea at hand, Marshall argues that the Judiciary Act of 1789 was unconstitutional. In Marshall 's perspective, Congress could not present the Supreme Court with the power to issue an order granting Marbury his commission. Only the Constitution could do so, and the document said nothing about the Supreme Court having the power to issue such an order. Thus, the Supreme Court could not force Jefferson and Madison to appoint Marbury, because it did not have the power to do so.

One of these cases was Smith v. Allwright. The outcome of this case declared that Texas' exclusion of black voters from primary elections, known as the "White Primary", unconstitutional. By winning this case Marshall not only paved the way for the removal of black voting laws, but he also made it public that the Supreme Court was no longer going to ignore the constitutional rights of African Americans, that had been discounted by state legislatures since the Civil War. In yet another governmental policy altering case Shelley v. Kraemer in 1948 the Supreme Court agreed with Marshall that courts could not enforce "restrictive covenants," private agreements not to sell land to blacks. (3) This time Marshall directed a blow at the state level courts, forcing them to become aware of the nation's new found view of civil liberties. In Sweat v. Painter in 1950 and in Sipuel v. University of Oklahoma in 1948, Marshall won unanimous decisions declaring "separate but equal" facilities for black professionals as well as graduate students in state universities unconstitutional. (3) First the state

Thurgood Marshall is a man that went to court for colored kids and white kids to got to the same school. He went to court in October 1967 and won the trial in 1991.

Booker T. Washington rose up from slavery and illiteracy to become the foremost educator and leader of black Americans at the turn of the century. He was born on April 5, 1856 in Franklin County, Virginia. As a child he worked in the salt mines but always found time for education. Washington constantly dreamed of college but as an African American this dream was nearly impossible. His scrupulous working habits from the mines set him out for college at the Hampton Institute. He graduated in 1876 and became a teacher at a rural school. After 2 years of teaching, he went back to the Hampton Institute and was a “professor” here for 2 more years. His next challenge would be at a new all black college, Tuskegee Institute where he would become president. Under Washington's leadership (1881-1915), Tuskegee Institute became an important force in black education. Washington won a Harvard honorary degree in 1891.

A very intelligent strong-minded man argued this case in 1954. According to UXL Encyclopedia of U.S. History, Thurgood Marshall was born on July 2, 1908. He was raised in a two

Although the government vowed to treat all American citizens equal, there was a clear prejudice towards minorities. When the United States is fearful, it is a common tendency that society creates a general target of blame, a scapegoat. Thurgood Marshall lead the National Association for the advancement of colored people’s legal defense funds to hand civil rights litigation. The NAACP made a lot of important changes in the time of the Great Depression. As society was modernizing more things became accepted and considered. Morals started to shift and new standards were a result. Even though the U.S Constitution states rights that grant every citizen equality and the same basic rights, society did not view minorities as the same. For example, the ninth amendment states that “The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka was argued on December 9, 1952; the attorney who argued on behalf of the plaintiffs was Thurgood Marshall, who later served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court (1967–91). The case was reargued on December 8, 1953, to address the question of whether the framers of the Fourteenth Amendment would have understood it to be inconsistent with racial segregation in public education. The 1954 decision found that the historical evidence bearing on the issue was inconclusive.

The judicial branch, in its conception as outlined in Article III of the constitution was designated the “power to interpret the law, determine the constitutionality of the law, and apply it to individual cases (The White House)”. However, since the ratification of the constitution, much like the other two branches of government, the judicial branch has also experienced an expanded delegation of authority and power. This notion is evidenced in the 1803 decision on the case of Marbury v. Madison where the Supreme Court asserted its power of judicial review by ”blocking last-minute appointments by outgoing President John Adams (Chegg)” by declaring that these actions should not be permitted because the supreme court, under chief justice john Marshall declared them unconstitutional(Cornell). This set forth a very powerful precedent for judicial review, one that continues to play a critical role in political discourse today. Although the evolution of the judiciary commenced following the fallout of the 1803 decision, the courts have delegated to themselves a controversial role as policy-makers in response to societal demands and stresses placed upon the political system specifically during and after the civil rights movement that occurred in the United States during the 20th century. This expanded role into the realm of actual policy making is derived from the belief that the constitution is indeed a living and flexible document that must retain the capability for change. As the