Trustees of Dartmouth College v. Woodward
17 U.S. (4 Wheat.) 518 (1819)
📄 Read the Actual Opinion
U.S. Reports opinion (PDF) →📋 Summary of the Opinion
New Hampshire attempted to convert Dartmouth College from a private institution into a public one. The Court ruled that the original charter was a contract protected from state interference by the Constitution.
⚖️ Why It Mattered
The case strengthened the Contracts Clause and protected private institutions from arbitrary state control, paving the way for early corporate independence.
✅ What It Provided or Took Away
✅ Provided:
Security for private corporate charters against unilateral state alteration.
❌ Took Away:
States’ ability to simply rewrite or seize control of private institutions.
🤔 Overreach or Proper Role?
This was strong Contracts Clause enforcement but consistent with constitutional text and prior precedent.
💡 Plain-English Impact Today
States can regulate corporations, but they cannot unilaterally rewrite existing charters or agreements without violating the Constitution.