Thurgood Marshall's Journey From Jim Crow to Supreme Court Justice

Thurgood Marshall, inspired by a punishment to read the U.S. Constitution, became a leading civil rights lawyer. Despite facing racial discrimination, he excelled at Howard University Law School. His early legal victory in Murray v. Pearson set the stage for his work with the NAACP, where he won 29 Supreme Court cases, including the landmark Brown v. Board of Education. In 1967, he became the first black Supreme Court Justice, serving until 1991, and continued to protect civil rights.

What event in Thurgood Marshall's high school years sparked his interest in the U.S. Constitution?

• A history class project

• A punishment for a prank

• A debate competition

• A family discussion

Why was Thurgood Marshall denied admission to the University of Maryland School of Law?

• He did not meet the academic requirements

• He applied too late

• He was rejected due to his race

• He chose another school

Which university did Thurgood Marshall attend for his law degree?

• Princeton University

• Yale University

• Howard University

• Harvard University

What was the significance of the Murray v. Pearson case?

• It was a case about voting rights

• It challenged racial discrimination in education

• It was Marshall's first case

• It was a case about employment discrimination

What organization did Thurgood Marshall join in 1936 to fight for civil rights?

• Southern Christian Leadership Conference

• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

• National Urban League

• American Civil Liberties Union

How many cases did Thurgood Marshall win before the Supreme Court?

• 42

• 15

• 29

• 35

What was the outcome of the Brown v. Board of Education case?

• Schools were integrated

• Schools remained segregated

• Only colleges were integrated

• Only high schools were integrated

In what year was Thurgood Marshall appointed to the Supreme Court?

• 1965

• 1975

• 1967

• 1970

Who nominated Thurgood Marshall to the Supreme Court?

• John F. Kennedy

• Richard Nixon

• Lyndon B. Johnson

• Gerald Ford

What was Thurgood Marshall's primary focus during his time on the Supreme Court?

• Foreign policy

• Civil rights

• Environmental law

• Economic policy