Final answer:
The cases mentioned are Dartmouth College v. Woodward, Gibbons v. Ogden, and Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge. These cases address issues related to contracts, interstate commerce, and the role of the federal government.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the question, the cases mentioned are:
- Dartmouth College v. Woodward: This case, decided in 1819, focused on the sanctity of contracts. Dartmouth College received a royal charter to conduct its business in New Hampshire, but the state legislature passed a law to convert it into a public university. The Supreme Court ruled that the government cannot modify corporate charters or contracts once issued without the consent of both parties.
- Gibbons v. Ogden: This case, decided in 1824, related to interstate commerce. It involved steamboat operators on the Hudson River. The Supreme Court ruled that New York's monopoly law granting exclusive control over ferry traffic to certain operators was unconstitutional. The power to regulate commerce between states belongs to Congress, not individual states.
- Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge: This case, decided in 1837, involved a dispute between two bridge companies in Massachusetts. The Supreme Court ruled that the state did not violate the Constitution by allowing a new bridge to be built, even if it harmed the profits of an existing bridge company. The decision favored the broader public interest over the protection of private contracts.
These cases collectively demonstrated the federal government's role in promoting economic development and defined its power in relation to the states.