Selected Court Cases in United States History
Commonwealth v. Hunt (1842)
1 In the 1790s workers began forming unions to bargain collectively with employers for higher wages and other benefits. Employers generally resisted these efforts. This decision, handed down by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, strengthened the union movement by ruling that workers had the right to form a union and that doing so did not constitute a criminal conspiracy against their employer.
Muller v. Oregon (1908)
2 In the early 1900s, Progressive reformers in Oregon overcame business apposition and helped to pass a law protecting working women. The law prohibited businesses from requiring women to work for more than ten hours a day. The U.S. Supreme Court supported these Progressive reformers by declaring that the law was constitutional.
Schenck v. United States (1919)
3 After the United States entered World War I, Congress passed the Espionage Act of 1917 to punish antiwar behavior and ben antiwar materials from the mail, It also passed the Sedition Act of 1918, which outlawed speech, writing, and behavior that the government deemed dangerous to the war effort. Charles Schenck was convicted of mailing antiwar pamphlets that urged men to seek repeal of the Conscription Act. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld his conviction, ruling that the First Amendment's right to free speech did not include speech that was "a clear and present danger to the safety of the country."
Which of these pairs of cases deals with First Amendment rights?
- A. Commonwealth v. Hunt and Brown v. Board of Education
- B. Muller v. Oregon and Schenck v. United States
- C. Schenck v. United States and Engel v. Vitale
- D. Brown v. Board of Education and Engel v. Vitale
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
Option C features Schenck v. United States and Engel v. Vitale, both pivotal cases addressing First Amendment rights. Schenck examined free speech limitations during wartime, while Engel addressed the separation of church and state in public schools, emphasizing freedom of religion. Option A includes Commonwealth v. Hunt, focused on labor rights, and Brown v. Board of Education, which, although significant for civil rights, does not directly pertain to First Amendment issues. Option B includes Muller v. Oregon, centered on labor laws, and Schenck, which, while relevant, does not pair with a Second case addressing First Amendment rights. Option D pairs Brown v. Board of Education with Engel v. Vitale, where only Engel pertains to First Amendment issues, making it an incomplete choice.
Option C features Schenck v. United States and Engel v. Vitale, both pivotal cases addressing First Amendment rights. Schenck examined free speech limitations during wartime, while Engel addressed the separation of church and state in public schools, emphasizing freedom of religion. Option A includes Commonwealth v. Hunt, focused on labor rights, and Brown v. Board of Education, which, although significant for civil rights, does not directly pertain to First Amendment issues. Option B includes Muller v. Oregon, centered on labor laws, and Schenck, which, while relevant, does not pair with a Second case addressing First Amendment rights. Option D pairs Brown v. Board of Education with Engel v. Vitale, where only Engel pertains to First Amendment issues, making it an incomplete choice.
Other Related Questions
What is the effect of a debit on a person's checking account?
- A. The account's balance increases.
- B. The account's balance decreases.
- C. The account's interest rate increases.
- D. The account's interest rate decreases.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
A debit reduces the available funds in a checking account, leading to a decrease in the account's balance. Therefore, option B accurately reflects this effect. Option A is incorrect since a debit cannot increase the balance; it signifies money being spent or withdrawn. Options C and D relate to interest rates, which are unaffected by debit transactions in a checking account. Interest rates typically depend on the account type and bank policies, not on individual transactions like debits. Hence, they do not apply to the effect of a debit on the account balance.
A debit reduces the available funds in a checking account, leading to a decrease in the account's balance. Therefore, option B accurately reflects this effect. Option A is incorrect since a debit cannot increase the balance; it signifies money being spent or withdrawn. Options C and D relate to interest rates, which are unaffected by debit transactions in a checking account. Interest rates typically depend on the account type and bank policies, not on individual transactions like debits. Hence, they do not apply to the effect of a debit on the account balance.
The purpose of the U.S. imposing immigration quotas was to
- A. better control who was admitted to the country.
- B. help keep the country neutral during World War II.
- C. increase the number of eligible Germans and Austrians.
- D. put pressure on Germany to stop using concentration camps.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
Imposing immigration quotas aimed to better control who was admitted to the U.S., ensuring that specific nationalities were favored or restricted based on political and social considerations. This approach allowed the government to manage demographic changes and maintain national security. Option B is incorrect as immigration quotas were established long before World War II and were not directly related to maintaining neutrality during the conflict. Option C misrepresents the quotas' purpose, as they were not designed to increase the number of Germans and Austrians but rather to limit immigration from certain countries. Option D is also inaccurate; the quotas were not a mechanism to pressure Germany regarding its policies, including concentration camps.
Imposing immigration quotas aimed to better control who was admitted to the U.S., ensuring that specific nationalities were favored or restricted based on political and social considerations. This approach allowed the government to manage demographic changes and maintain national security. Option B is incorrect as immigration quotas were established long before World War II and were not directly related to maintaining neutrality during the conflict. Option C misrepresents the quotas' purpose, as they were not designed to increase the number of Germans and Austrians but rather to limit immigration from certain countries. Option D is also inaccurate; the quotas were not a mechanism to pressure Germany regarding its policies, including concentration camps.
During the Civil War, which Confederate state had some of its citizens oppose secession and organize their own state, which eventually joined the Union?
- A. Arkansas
- B. Tennessee
- C. Texas
- D. Virginia
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
During the Civil War, Virginia experienced significant internal conflict over secession. A portion of its citizens opposed joining the Confederacy, leading to the formation of West Virginia. This new state, created in 1863, ultimately joined the Union. In contrast, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Texas remained firmly aligned with the Confederacy throughout the war, with no significant movements to create separate states that joined the Union. Arkansas and Tennessee had divisions in loyalty, but they did not result in the establishment of a new state like West Virginia. Virginia's unique situation highlights the complexities of loyalty during the Civil War.
During the Civil War, Virginia experienced significant internal conflict over secession. A portion of its citizens opposed joining the Confederacy, leading to the formation of West Virginia. This new state, created in 1863, ultimately joined the Union. In contrast, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Texas remained firmly aligned with the Confederacy throughout the war, with no significant movements to create separate states that joined the Union. Arkansas and Tennessee had divisions in loyalty, but they did not result in the establishment of a new state like West Virginia. Virginia's unique situation highlights the complexities of loyalty during the Civil War.
When is a government most likely to establish a wage floor?
- A. When wages have consistently increased over a long period of time
- B. When wages have remained constant over a long period of time
- C. When it determines wages are too low
- D. When it determines wages are too high
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
A wage floor, often implemented through minimum wage laws, is typically established when the government identifies that wages are too low, leading to insufficient income for workers. Option A is incorrect because a consistent increase in wages does not necessitate a wage floor; it may indicate a healthy economy. Option B is also wrong, as constant wages may not reflect a need for intervention unless they are deemed inadequate. Option D misinterprets the purpose of a wage floor; it is not set when wages are high, but rather to protect workers from unlivable pay levels. Thus, the rationale for a wage floor centers on addressing low wages.
A wage floor, often implemented through minimum wage laws, is typically established when the government identifies that wages are too low, leading to insufficient income for workers. Option A is incorrect because a consistent increase in wages does not necessitate a wage floor; it may indicate a healthy economy. Option B is also wrong, as constant wages may not reflect a need for intervention unless they are deemed inadequate. Option D misinterprets the purpose of a wage floor; it is not set when wages are high, but rather to protect workers from unlivable pay levels. Thus, the rationale for a wage floor centers on addressing low wages.