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Gobitis v. Minersville School District and Barnette v. West Virginia State Board of Education: The Flag Salute Cases

School children objecting to flag salute laws in the 1930s and 40s challenge and then change the judiciary’s approach to the Constitution’s protection of freedom of conscience.

Famous Federal Trials

by Winston Bowman, Associate Historian, Federal Judicial History Office, Federal Judicial Center

Learn about the case — historical background and documents

View/Download PDF (2.71 MB)

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Classroom Materials and Activities

Power Point Lecture (PowerPoint, 1.94 MB)
Student Handout (PDF, 175.76 KB)