Trustees of Dartmouth College v. Woodward - Significance, Further Readings

Appellant

Dartmouth College

Appellee

State of New Hampshire

Appellant's Claim

That the action of the state of New Hampshire reconstituting the charter of Dartmouth College as Dartmouth University and appointing a new board of trustees was a violation of the constitutional protection against actions impairing contracts.

Chief Lawyer for Appellant

Daniel Webster

Chief Lawyers for Appellee

Joseph Hopkinson for old trustees; John Holmes and William Wirt, for State of New Hampshire

Justices for the Court

William Johnson, Henry Brockholst Livingston, John Marshall (writing for the Court), Joseph Story, Bushrod Washington

Justices Dissenting

Gabriel Duvall (Thomas Todd did not participate)

Place

Washington, D.C.

Date of Decision

12 March 1818

Decision

That the state could not alter the charter of a private educational institution as it was a contract.

Related Cases

• Allen v. McKean, 1 F.Cas. 489 (C.C.D.Me 1833).
• Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge, 36 U.S. 420 (1837).