Wars and Panics

TL;DR

The timing of economic and military crises can significantly impact legal decisions, as seen in cases like Korematsu v. United States and the Dred Scott case.

Transcript

when you read a decision take a second to ask yourself whether the case arose during the time of a military or economic crisis if yes you should think about whether the exigencies might have influenced the court's decision the Supreme Court's equal protection scrutiny of the Japanese internment camps in Korematsu versus the United States might have... Read More

Key Insights

• 🎖️ The timing of economic and military crises can influence the Supreme Court's decision-making process.
• 😨 The Dred Scott case resulted in a panic in the markets and fear of violence.
• 👮 Understanding the timing of economic crises helps analyze the impact on lawmaking and the common law.
• 🥺 Economic crises often lead to changes in statutes and legal precedents.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Knowing the dates of significant economic panics and military conflicts can provide insights into the timing of legal decisions.
• 🏍️ Economic crises in the 19th century occurred in cycles, approximately every 20 years.
• 🙈 Economic crises can impact the chances of reelection for presidents, as seen with Martin Van Buren.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did economic and military crises influence the Supreme Court's decision in Korematsu v. United States?

The timing of the Japanese internment camps during a time of war influenced the Supreme Court's equal protection scrutiny in Korematsu v. United States. If the crisis was not present, the Court's scrutiny might have been more searching.

Q: What was the impact of the Dred Scott decision on the markets and society?

The Dred Scott decision led to a panic in the markets, as seen with the collapse of bonds for the East West Railroad. It also created fear of violence and unrest in the West, resulting in the Bleeding Kansas violence.

Q: How do economic crises affect lawmaking and the common law?

Economic crises, like the home mortgage crisis, have a significant impact on both statutes and the common law. The aftermath of such crises often leads to changes in legislation and legal precedents.

Q: How did the panic of 1837 impact Martin Van Buren's presidency?

Martin Van Buren took office just before the panic of 1837, and his presidency never recovered. The economic crisis reduced his chances of reelection and had long-lasting effects on his presidency.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Economic and military crises can influence the Supreme Court's decision-making process, as evident in the Korematsu v. United States case.

• The Dred Scott case resulted in a panic in the markets immediately after the Supreme Court's opinion was announced.

• Understanding the timing of economic crises and military conflicts helps in analyzing the influence on lawmaking and legal decisions.