NAQT You Gotta Know: Landmark Supreme Court Cases

Landmark Supreme Court Cases

• Plessy v. Ferguson: Established "separate but equal" doctrine; ultimately overturned by Brown v. Board of Education.
• Roe v. Wade: Legalized abortion in the first trimester by striking down vague state laws.
• Brown v. Board of Education: Found that separate educational facilities are unconstitutional, overturning Plessy v. Ferguson.
• McCulloch v. Maryland: Asserted federal sovereignty by ruling that states cannot tax federal banks.
• Baker v. Carr: Addressed gerrymandering; led to the principle of "one man, one vote" under Reynolds v. Sims.
• Ex parte Merryman: Highlighted tensions between Lincoln and the Supreme Court over habeas corpus suspension.

Mythological Figures

• Ymir: Primordial being from Norse mythology; his body was used by the gods to create the universe.
• Frigg: Norse goddess associated with sky, marriage, and motherhood; skilled in weaving clouds.

Historical Figures and Events

• Louis XIV: Known as the "Sun King"; expanded French influence in Europe, including claims to the Spanish throne.
• Louis XIII: Strengthened France as a major European power through success in the Thirty Years' War.

Celestial Bodies

• Charon: Pluto's moon, features icy surface and synchronous orbit.
• Deimos and Phobos: Mars' moons named "Fear" and "Panic".
• Europa: Moon of Jupiter discovered by Galileo; composed of silicate rocks.
• Ganymede: Largest moon in the solar system; exhibits tectonic features with a layered structure.
• Io: Volcanically active moon of Jupiter, known for its geological disturbances.

Foundational Documents and Authors

• U.S. Constitution: Authored by figures including James Madison.
• Qur'an: Central religious text of Islam, associated with Mohammed and Uthman.
• Book of Genesis: Account attributed to Moses from 950-500 BC.
• Declaration of Independence: Key historical document written by Thomas Jefferson.
• Federalist Papers: Series of essays defending the Constitution, written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison.
• Magna Carta: Historic document that limited the powers of King John.

Influential Literary Works

• The Elements: Classic work on geometry by Euclid.
• Principia Mathematica: Isaac Newton's foundational work on physics and mathematics.
• Bill of Rights: First ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution crafted by James Madison.
• Torah: Central reference of the religious Judaic tradition, associated with Moses.
• Common Sense: Pamphlet by Thomas Paine advocating for American independence.

Notable Literary Figures and Works

• Jonathan Edwards: Famous for the sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God".
• William Shakespeare: Renowned playwright; "Hamlet" is one of his most famous tragedies.
• Sophocles: Greek playwright known for "Oedipus Rex".
• Herman Melville: Authored "Moby-Dick", a classic American novel.
• Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald: Wrote "The Great Gatsby", a critique of the American Dream.
• Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra: Recognized for "Don Quixote", a foundational work of Western literature.
• Homer: Ancient Greek poet credited with the "Iliad".
• Jane Austen: Known for "Pride and Prejudice", a commentary on social class and marriage.
• George Orwell: Author of "1984", a dystopian novel about totalitarianism.
• Mark Twain: Wrote "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", exploring themes of race and identity.
• Nathaniel Hawthorne: Known for "The Scarlet Letter", examining sin and morality.
• Stephen Crane: Author of "The Red Badge of Courage", a realist portrayal of war.
• Voltaire: Penned "Candide", a satire of optimism and society.
• Leo Tolstoy: Known for "Anna Karenina", a complex novel about love and morality.
• Alexandre Dumas: Authored "The Three Musketeers", a popular adventure novel.
• Harper Lee: Wrote "To Kill a Mockingbird", addressing racial injustice.
• Aldous Huxley: Known for "Brave New World", a satirical take on a dystopian future.
• Jack London: Authored "The Call of the Wild", a story of survival in the wilderness.