Insular Cases (1901)
The Insular cases were a series of nine cases, deciding that Constitutional rights did not necessarily apply to citizens of U.S. territorial acquisitions. These cases came to light with the debate over annexation of the Philippines, and whether constitutional rights would extend to inhabitants of such newly acquired territory automatically. This set a precedent for military rule and near-oppression of new territories, as the U.S. government had no obligation to respect rights to property, due process, or freedom of speech.
The Insular cases were a series of nine cases, deciding that Constitutional rights did not necessarily apply to citizens of U.S. territorial acquisitions. These cases came to light with the debate over annexation of the Philippines, and whether constitutional rights would extend to inhabitants of such newly acquired territory automatically. This set a precedent for military rule and near-oppression of new territories, as the U.S. government had no obligation to respect rights to property, due process, or freedom of speech.