Week 3: The Founding Era

 History of the Supreme Court

    The Supreme Court went through a lot of work to get to where it is now. Our government started off with our Declaration of Independence, to the Treaty of Paris, to drafting our Constitution. 

    The Supreme Court not only had to figure out what laws they wanted to put into place for our new country, they also had to deal with slavery at the same time. After 100+ years, the slave trade finally ended in 1808, which lead to the 3/5 Compromise, Fugitive Slave Law, and the 20 Year Rule. All these things lead to Civil Rights and how the Supreme Court should handle this problem happening in their country. After about 50 years the 13th Amendment was passed banning slavery and then the 14th Amendment which gave African American's citizenship. 

    These Amendments helped make America what it is today, trying to become a non-discriminatory country. Trying to make every human have the same rights as everyone else no matter who they are or who they claim to be. For example, over the summer there was a new civil rights law passed that protected gay and transgender persons in the workplace. R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes Inc. v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission was the law that was passed in favor of those who are gay and have different gender identities. This law helps those who have different sexualities and gender identities be treated in the workplace just like everyone else. 

New York Times overview of the law:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/15/us/gay-transgender-workers-supreme-court.html