Fletcher v. Peck

Fletcher v. Peck (1810)

1) Link to the Actual Opinion
Read the U.S. Reports opinion (PDF)

2) Summary of the Opinion
Georgia attempted to rescind land grants that were issued through corruption. The Supreme Court ruled that voiding those grants impaired contracts, which the Constitution forbids states from doing.

3) Why It Mattered
This was the first time the Supreme Court struck down a state law as unconstitutional. It established the Court’s authority to check state legislation against the federal Constitution.

Foundational Cases

Trustees of Dartmouth College v. Woodward

Trustees of Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1819)

1) Link to the Actual Opinion
Read the U.S. Reports opinion (PDF)

2) Summary of the Opinion
New Hampshire attempted to convert Dartmouth College from a private institution into a public one. The Court ruled that the original charter was a contract protected from state interference by the Constitution.

3) Why It Mattered
The case strengthened the Contracts Clause and protected private institutions from arbitrary state control, paving the way for early corporate independence.