This episode chronicles events during the Obama administration. It includes the Great Recession, the various domestic programs employed to get the U.S. out of the recession, DACA, The Affordable Care Act, various credit and banking reforms, and efforts to mitigate the deficit and debt. Foreign policy includes relations with Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia, etc.

AP US History Buschistory David Busch

The Obama Administration

This first amendment case deals with the ability of the Federal government to restrain the press from printing information that the government deems damaging. In this case Daniel Ellsberg is providing research to the New York Times and the Washington Post about lies, incompetence, and the Vietnam war. The articles in both the Times and the Post, show that the US government lied to the American people about the conduct and status of the Vietnam War. The Nixon administration tried to stop the publication of the articles.

Supreme Court 13 The New York Times V The United States

What are a woman's rights when it comes to her body - in this case abortion. As controversial case as any - the Supreme court must decide if the 14th Amendment's Due Process clause extends to a woman's right to have an abortion. The decision favored Roe in this landmark case. With the ruling the controversy did not die. Some states continue to reexamine the decision and seek greater restrictions on abortion.

Supreme Court 14 Roe V Wade 1973

The classic First Amendment case. Do students surrender their right of free speech and expression when they enter the school building? The 7-2 decision will affirm that freedom of expression is protected under the First Amendment, and it extends to students in public schools.

Supreme Court 12 Tinker v Des Moines 1969

This cases deals with the Establishment Clause of religion as outlined in the First Amendment to the US Constitution. Can the government mandate a voluntary prayer in schools? While seemingly obvious - the Supreme court decided that the "voluntary prayer" violated the First Amendment. 6-1 decision

Supreme Court 10 Engle V. Vitale

This is the landmark case that decides the rights of the accused. Miranda confessed - doesn't that make him guilty? One would think - but what if the proper procedure wasn't followed? What if he didn't know he had the right to remain silent? That is the focus of this very important case. A 5-4 decision for Miranda adds to the controversy.

Supreme Court 11 Miranda V. Arizona

This landmark case is one of the pillars of the modern Civil Rights movement. In order to overturn Plessey 1896 the NAACP needed to prove that separate could never be equal. It took Linda Brown, some dolls, and Thurgood Marshall to demonstrate the inferiority that Black America felt regardless of how "equal" the separate facility was.

Supreme Court 9 Brown V Board of Education 1954

The Russian Revolution and World War I launched the U.S. into a Red Scare. Fearing foreign influence the Espionage and Sedition Acts were passed. In essence they forbid interference with the war effort through making false statements or promoting disloyalty. Charles Schenck was the General Secretary of the U.S. Socialist party. In 1917, just when the U.S. entered World War I, he helped print and distribute over 15,000 leaflets urging men to resist the draft. He was arrested and charged with violating the Espionage Act. Sentenced to ten years in prison he appealed to the Supreme Court who upheld the conviction.

Supreme Court 7 Schenck v. The U.S.

Did the U.S. government have the right to round up and detain Japanese American citizens during World War II? Did they present a danger and did the U.S. government act reasonably. Fred Korematsu didn't think so. After Franklin Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066 Korematsu had plastic surgery and tried to conceal his identity. Korematsu was arrested and convicted of violating the local Civilian Exclusion order. He appealed to the Supreme court. The Supreme court upheld the conviction ruling that the government can take extraordinary measures in times of war. It was later looked on as a national shame.

Supreme Court 8 Korematsu V. The United States

In the shadow of Reconstruction lived Homer Plessey. During the Jim Crowe era southern states found ways to impose highly restrictive regulations on Black society. One principal method was to restrict Blacks from mixing with Whites. Separate facilities dominated the South and Homer Plessey would test whether Louisiana's segregation regulations were Constitutional. The court ultimately ruled that Separate but Equal facilities were legal. This decision became the precedent to allow segregation throughout the South and was upheld until 1954.

Supreme Court 6 - Plessey V. Ferguson 1896

This case deals with the supremacy issue once again. It is a test to reaffirm the precedent set in 1819 with McCulloch. The issue is whether a license to conduct interstate commerce issued by the Federal Government is superior to that of a State government. Of course, the Federal license will be deemed superior to the State license affirming the 1819 decision.

Supreme Court 3 - Gibbons V Ogden 1824

During the "Decade of Crisis" Dred Scott sued for his freedom. Having lived in a free state and territory Scott claimed that he should be granted his freedom. Helped throughout the process by the family of his original owner Peter Blow, Scott had moved through Illinois and the Wisconsin territory, both of which were free. he traveled with his second master's family - the Emersons. Ultimately, Irene Emerson moved to Massachusetts giving Scott to her brother John Sanford. Four years before the Civil War the Supreme Court will rule that Scott is not a citizen of the US and therefore cannot bring suit. The court side stepped the issue.

Supreme Court 4 - Dred Scott V. Sanford 1857

This Civil War case explores the idea of civilians facing military tribunals. Milligan was part of a group of Civil War dissenters. They were northern Democrats charged with conspiracy to overthrow the government, lead an insurrection and in general thwart Union efforts in the War. Pres. Lincoln had suspended the writ of habeas corpus and declared martial law in areas with many protesters. Arrested with his co-conspirators, the military court sentenced Milligan to hang. The Supreme Court will set the precedent that civilians cannot be judged in military courts as long as civilian courts are in session.

Supreme Court 5 - Ex Parte Milligan 1866

This is second in the series of major, or precedent setting decisions. This major case of the Marshall court has to do with Maryland attempting to levy a tax on the 2nd Bank of the United States. The Marshall court will decide that the Federal government is supreme over state governments, and that a state may not tax the Federal government.

Supreme Court 2 - McCulloch V. Maryland 1819

Considered to be the first major Supreme Court precedent setting decision, William Marbury sues James Madison to obtain a judicial appointment awarded by John Adams. The election of 1800 marked a change in political philosophy as the Federalist era of George Washington and John Adams evolved into the Democratic Republican era of Thomas Jefferson. John Adams wanted to assure continued Federalist influence in the judiciary.

Supreme Court 1 - Marbury V. Madison 1803

American History is discussed and reviewed with cause and effect relationships and long term implications. This is part of a larger series of podcasts and videos available at www.buschistory.net and also available on You Tube under Buschistory.

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AP US History Buschistory David Busch

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