The three decades following the Civil War, also known as the “Gilded Age,” contained many famous and influential Supreme Court cases. Thumma and Miller examine ten decisions by the Supreme Court that contributed to the Court’s failure to uphold the promises of constitutional revolution brought by the ending of the Civil War. This deep dive into the Court’s most infamous decisions during this time period give explanation and insight as to why this 30-year era is truly “The Slump.”
Samuel A. Thumma & Michael O. Miller, The Slump: Infamous United States Supreme Court Decisions from the Gilded Age, Explanations About What Happened, and Why It Matters Now, 28 J. Gender, Race & Just. 1 (2025).