Page 2: Landmark Supreme Court Cases on Religious Freedom
This page of the AP Gov Unit 3 Study Guide focuses on significant Supreme Court cases that have shaped the interpretation of religious freedom in the United States. It begins with an in-depth look at Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971), a pivotal case in Establishment Clause jurisprudence.
Highlight: The Lemon Test, established in Lemon v. Kurtzman, provides a three-part criteria for examining the constitutionality of laws related to religion:
- Have a legitimate secular purpose
- Neither advance nor inhibit religion
- Avoid excessive government entanglement with religion
The guide then explores Engel v. Vitale (1962), a landmark case that addressed the issue of school prayer. The Supreme Court's 6-1 decision in this case significantly impacted the interpretation of the Establishment Clause.
Example: In Engel v. Vitale, the Court ruled that even a nondenominational prayer at the start of a school day violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
Another crucial case discussed is Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972), which dealt with the balance between religious freedom and state education requirements. This case highlighted the Court's approach to weighing religious beliefs against compelling state interests.
Quote: "The court ruled that the Amish families taking their children out of school after 8th grade was protected by the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment."
The page concludes by introducing Schenck v. United States (1919), a case that addressed the limits of free speech during wartime. This case set the stage for discussions on the boundaries of First Amendment protections in various contexts.
Vocabulary: Espionage Act of 1917 - A United States federal law passed shortly after entering World War I, which made it a crime to interfere with military operations or recruitment.
This comprehensive overview of landmark cases provides students with essential knowledge for understanding the complex interplay between religious freedom, free speech, and government authority in the AP Gov civil liberties curriculum.