Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
On this day, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in South Dakota v. Dole, upholding a federal law that encouraged states to raise the drinking age to 21 by withholding a small portion of highway funds. South Dakota argued this violated state powers protected by the Twenty-First Amendment. But in a 7-2 decision, the Court ruled that the federal government’s action was constitutional because the funding penalty was not overly coercive. The case remains a key example of debates over federalism and the balance of power between states and the national government.
🔗 Learn more about South Dakota v. Dole:
billofrightsinstitute.org/videos/south-dakota-v-dole-bris-homework-help-series
billofrightsinstitute.org/lessons/south-dakota-v-dole-1987
#ThisDayInHistory #SouthDakotavDole #Federalism #SupremeCourt #USConstitution #tdih #otd #21stamendment #Amendments
On this day, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in South Dakota v. Dole, upholding a federal law that encouraged states to raise the drinking age to 21 by withholding a small portion of highway funds. South Dakota argued this violated state powers protected by the Twenty-First Amendment. But in a 7-2 decision, the Court ruled that the federal government’s action was constitutional because the funding penalty was not overly coercive. The case remains a key example of debates over federalism and the balance of power between states and the national government.
🔗 Learn more about South Dakota v. Dole:
billofrightsinstitute.org/videos/south-dakota-v-dole-bris-homework-help-series
billofrightsinstitute.org/lessons/south-dakota-v-dole-1987
#ThisDayInHistory #SouthDakotavDole #Federalism #SupremeCourt #USConstitution #tdih #otd #21stamendment #Amendments
