Today in History–May 18–the Library of Congress features the Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson, which ruled on this day in 1896 that separate-but-equal facilities on intrastate railroads were constitutional. The decision gave legal sanction to Jim Crow segregation laws and the decision was not reversed until May 17, 1954 when the Supreme Court unanimously agreed that segregation was unconstitutional in the…
Today in History–April 4–the Library of Congress features Carrie S. Burnham, who continued to present her arguments before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on the right of women to vote on this day in 1873. Learn more about her appeal and the suffrage movement by visiting the Today in History section, then clicking the links below. Carrie Burnham Argued for the Right…
Today in History–March 9–the Library of Congress features the Amistad mutiny survivors, released on this day in 1841 by the Supreme Court. Former president John Quincy Adams successfully argued the case and the former captives eventually returned to Africa. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section, then clicking the links below to read Adams’ argument and access more…
Today in History–December 6–the Library of Congress features Salmon P. Chase, nominated as Supreme Court Chief Justice by President Abraham Lincoln on this day in 1864. Learn more about the architect of the first two clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment who also served as Governor of Ohio, a U.S. Senator, and Lincoln’s secretary of the treasury, by…
Today in History–September 15–the Library of Congress features William Howard Taft, born on this day in 1857. Taft had a very active political career that included two of our country’s highest posts, President and Supreme Court Chief Justice. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access more primary sources about William H. Taft….
Today in History–August 9–the Library of Congress features Andrew Jackson, who signed the Treaty of Fort Jackson that ended the Creek War on this day in 1814. Jackson had a successful military career, and also served as a U.S. Representative, Senator, Tennessee Supreme Court Justice, and the seventh President of the United States. Learn more about this fiery leader by visiting…