Most Supreme Court cases involve controversial topics--cruel and unusual punishment, the death penalty, abortion, personal privacy, and civil rights, to name a few. When the Court decides one of these cases, it is likely to elicit strong opinions on both sides of the issue. Consider the immediate impact of the Brown v. Board of Education decision: Violent reactions in the South led to public protests by many Americans in other parts of the country, which led to the stationing of National Guard troops in Southern states where resistance to the ruling was strongest. In the long term, even Southerners' opinions about segregation have evolved, and today it's hard to imagine a world in which a school is intentionally segregated.
Supreme Court cases have, no doubt, affected how Americans feel about the issues that concern you. Some cases probably created new laws or removed unjust ones. Perhaps some people were angry or upset about how the case was decided. But certainly the decision will impact American democracy in the future. You can follow reactions to court cases by reading or watching the news, examining posts on social media, or discussing the case with people who care about the issue.
The Supreme Court decisions that you have examined in this lesson will affect your life eventually; however, the impact may be minor or indirect. Find out more about the impact of a case--complete the section of your worksheet labeled Part 4: Describe the Impact.
