Timeline

250 years of the Constitution: when each part was added and the court cases that shaped what it means.

Founding Amendments Court cases Events · drawn to scale

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AllAmendmentsCourt casesFounding

Founding 1776–1791

July 4, 1776FoundingDeclaration of IndependenceThe colonies declare independence from Britain.
March 1, 1781FoundingArticles of Confederation take effectThe first plan of national government begins, with a weak central government.
May 25, 1787FoundingConstitutional Convention opensDelegates meet in Philadelphia to fix the Articles of Confederation.
September 17, 1787FoundingConstitution signedThirty-nine delegates sign the Constitution and send it to the states.
June 21, 1788FoundingConstitution ratifiedNew Hampshire becomes the 9th state to ratify, enough to adopt it.
March 4, 1789FoundingNew government beginsThe Constitution takes effect and the first Congress is scheduled to meet.
April 30, 1789FoundingGeorge Washington takes officeThe first president is sworn in under the new Constitution.
September 25, 1789FoundingCongress proposes the Bill of RightsCongress sends 12 proposed amendments to the states.
December 15, 1791AmendmentBill of Rights ratifiedThe first 10 amendments become part of the Constitution.

February 7, 1795Amendment11th AmendmentLimits lawsuits against a state in federal court.
February 24, 1803Court caseMarbury v. MadisonThe Court says it can strike down laws that conflict with the Constitution.
June 15, 1804Amendment12th AmendmentElectors cast separate votes for president and vice president.
March 6, 1819Court caseMcCulloch v. MarylandThe Court upholds a national bank and bars states from taxing it.
March 6, 1857Court caseDred Scott v. SandfordThe Court says Black Americans cannot be citizens. The 14th Amendment later overturns this.

April 12, 1861EventCivil War beginsConfederate forces fire on Fort Sumter, starting the Civil War.
January 1, 1863EventEmancipation ProclamationLincoln declares enslaved people in Confederate-held areas free.
April 9, 1865EventCivil War endsConfederate General Lee surrenders at Appomattox, and the war soon ends.
December 6, 1865Amendment13th AmendmentAbolishes slavery, except as punishment for a crime.
July 9, 1868Amendment14th AmendmentDefines citizenship and guarantees due process and equal protection of the laws.
February 3, 1870Amendment15th AmendmentBars denying the vote because of race, color, or past enslavement.

May 18, 1896Court casePlessy v. FergusonThe Court allows racial segregation under "separate but equal." Brown later overturns it.
March 28, 1898Court caseUnited States v. Wong Kim ArkThe Court rules a child born in the U.S. to Chinese parents is a citizen.
February 3, 1913Amendment16th AmendmentLets Congress collect a federal income tax.
April 8, 1913Amendment17th AmendmentVoters, not state legislatures, elect U.S. senators.
January 16, 1919Amendment18th AmendmentBans making, selling, and transporting alcohol. This is called Prohibition.
August 18, 1920Amendment19th AmendmentBars denying the vote because of sex.
June 2, 1924EventIndian Citizenship ActCongress makes all Native Americans born in the United States citizens.
January 23, 1933Amendment20th AmendmentMoves the start of presidential and congressional terms to January.
December 5, 1933Amendment21st AmendmentRepeals Prohibition.

February 27, 1951Amendment22nd AmendmentLimits a president to two elected terms.
May 17, 1954Court caseBrown v. Board of EducationThe Court rules racial segregation in public schools violates equal protection.
March 29, 1961Amendment23rd AmendmentGives Washington, D.C., electoral votes for president.
June 19, 1961Court caseMapp v. OhioEvidence from an illegal search cannot be used in state criminal trials.
March 18, 1963Court caseGideon v. WainwrightStates must provide a lawyer to people charged with felonies who cannot afford one.
January 23, 1964Amendment24th AmendmentBans poll taxes in federal elections.
August 6, 1965EventVoting Rights ActCongress passes a law to enforce the 15th Amendment's ban on racial voting discrimination.
March 24, 1966Court caseHarper v. Virginia State Board of ElectionsThe Court rules poll taxes in state elections violate equal protection.
June 13, 1966Court caseMiranda v. ArizonaPolice must warn people in custody of their rights before questioning them.
February 10, 1967Amendment25th AmendmentSets rules for when a president dies, resigns, or cannot serve.
June 12, 1967Court caseLoving v. VirginiaThe Court strikes down state bans on interracial marriage.
February 24, 1969Court caseTinker v. Des MoinesStudents keep free speech rights at school, including wearing protest armbands.
July 1, 1971Amendment26th AmendmentLowers the voting age to 18.

May 7, 1992Amendment27th AmendmentProposed in 1789. Delays congressional pay changes until after the next House election.
June 26, 2008Court caseDistrict of Columbia v. HellerThe 2nd Amendment protects an individual right to keep a handgun at home.
June 25, 2013Court caseShelby County v. HolderThe Court strikes down the Voting Rights Act formula for federal preapproval of voting changes.
June 25, 2014Court caseRiley v. CaliforniaPolice generally need a warrant to search a cell phone after an arrest.
June 26, 2015Court caseObergefell v. HodgesThe Court rules states must license and recognize same-sex marriages.
June 22, 2018Court caseCarpenter v. United StatesPolice generally need a warrant to get past cell phone location records.
June 23, 2021Court caseMahanoy Area School District v. B.L.A school could not punish a student's off-campus Snapchat post in this case.
June 23, 2022Court caseNew York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. BruenThe Court strikes down New York's carry-permit rule; gun rights extend outside the home.
June 21, 2024Court caseUnited States v. RahimiPeople a court finds to be a credible threat may be temporarily disarmed.
June 30, 2026Court caseTrump v. BarbaraThe Court rules that the 14th Amendment guarantees birthright citizenship, striking Executive Order 14160.
July 4, 2026Event250th anniversary of independenceThe United States marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence.