"Remember, Revere, and Rule," looks into the development of three of our nation's most important institutions; the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, and the National Archives.

Vocabulary

• John Jay
• John Marshall
• Thurgood Marshall
• judicial review
• Oliver Wendell Holmes
• Sandra Day O'Connor
• William Howard Taft
• Plessy v. Ferguson
• John Franklin Jameson
• Louis Brandeis
• corinthian
• Brown v. Board of Education
• Marbury v. Madison

Discussion Questions

1. What are the qualifications for the job of Justice of the Supreme Court?
2. Although the Constitution established the Supreme Court, its specific functions and powers were not described. Why did this make the court the weakest branch of government?
3. How did Chief Justice John Marshall shape the future of the US Supreme Court? What legal principle did he establish in the case of Marbury v. Madison?
4. What rule of law did Plessy v. Ferguson uphold in 1896? Which case eventually overturned it ? Why are these cases seen as landmarks in our history ?
5. Which national building has the motto, "WHAT IS PAST IS PROLOGUE", carved above the main entrance? What does that motto mean? Do you agree it?
6. Who founded the Library of Congress ? Why did he donate his personal library after the War of 1812?
7. What purpose does the National Archive serve? What important documents are stored there?

Research Projects

1. What does the First Amendment protect? Research a Supreme Court case that helped define the scope of the First Amendment. Present a report to your class on your findings.
2. Develop a timeline of Civil Rights cases, starting with Plessy v. Ferguson.
3. Chose a document that is preserved at the National Archives. Explain the historical importance of the document and why it is worth preserving.