This activity explores the Supreme Court’s 1947 decision in Adamson v. California, where Clarence Adamson was convicted after refusing to testify and his silence was used against him. The Court held (5–4) that the Fifth Amendment’s protection against self-incrimination did not apply to the states via the Fourteenth Amendment, allowing California to penalize his silence. This ruling limited the incorporation of the Bill of Rights against state governments and sparked debate over which federal rights bind the states.
Included in this resource:
Supreme Court Case Spotlight analysis with scaffolding questions
Answer key for teachers (suggested)
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