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.