History of the Supreme Court

 There were many surprising things I learned about the Supreme Court and the way it evolved in the first years of our country. 

One topic that interests me most is the historic Supreme Court cases. These are cases that we look back on and stand by our decision, which is called stare decisis. I think this is important because it will ensure the Supreme Court is upholding the country’s original values and decisions in tough cases. An example of this is, “Mapp v. Ohio (1961), which held that evidence obtained illegally cannot be used in criminal cases”. Evidence obtained illegally is still not allowed to be used in any court in the United States.

    Before learning about the history of the Supreme Court I had not thought about where many of our laws came from. I think it is very important to look back on our history and remember why we have our laws, the importance of them. 

    Another important part of our government is the system of checks and balances. The United States gave the most power to the state government to make sure the Federal government wouldn’t have too much power, and the individuals would always have a say in their government. This was a big change because England, along with many other countries had monarchies, which meant all the power was in the government and the individuals had no say. This was a crucial part of the American government, and it’s what sets the US apart. 

When learning about the Supreme Court I also learned about the effects of war. I have always been taught that war is good for the economy. Learning that every war causes recession and possibly depression was surprising but makes sense. War causes debt and when it’s over countries fall into recession trying to manage the debt. 

I also learned about the development of our laws. The Bill of Rights and Constitution were written changed over time to ensure they hold our countries ideals and made them clear. Understanding the importance and history of the Bill of Rights has added value to the freedoms I enjoy every day.