United States History Student Edition

ANALYZING SUPREME COURT CASES Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge

BACKGROUND OF THE CASE The U.S. Supreme Court in 1837 ruled in a case involving a dispute about two bridges. In 1785, the Charles River Bridge Company received a charter to build a bridge across a river in Massachusetts to connect the cities of Boston and Cambridge. Although the bridge improved transportation along the Charles River, the company charged a toll, which frustrated the public. Over time, the area’s rising population led to the need for an additional bridge to handle the increased traffic. So, in 1828, the state

legislature granted a charter to another company for the construction of the Warren Bridge. The new bridge was built close to the original structure, and unlike the earlier bridge, it was toll-free. The Charles River Bridge Company struggled to compete with the new bridge, and the company filed a suit, arguing that the Warren Bridge violated its property rights. THE DECISION OF THE COURT In a 5–2 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court decided the second charter was not in violation of the Charles River Bridge Company’s property rights. The original charter did not prohibit the construction of additional bridges across the river, and it did not grant the company exclusive rights. In its decision, the Court stated, “ambiguity in the terms of the contract must operate against [the company], and in favor of the public.” The second bridge was free of tolls, and as a result, it was in the best interest of the community that it remain open. Drafted by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, the Court’s decision indicated that companies could not stand in the way of innovation, trade, and the welfare of the public.

» In this illustration from an 1843 newspaper, residents of Boston cross the Warren Bridge.

1. Explaining Why did the Charles River Bridge Company file its lawsuit? 2. Determining Central Ideas How did the Supreme Court’s decision favor the public?

The Railroads Arrive The first railroads in the United States ran along short stretches of track that connected mines with nearby rivers. Horses pulled these early trains. The first steam-powered passenger locomotive began running in Great Britain in 1829. A year later, Peter Cooper designed and built the first American steam-powered locomotive. The Tom Thumb , as it was called, got off to a slow start. It actually lost a race staged against a horse-drawn train when its engine failed. Before long, however, engineers had improved the technology. In 1840, the United States had almost 3,000 miles (4,828 km) of railroad track. By 1860, the nation’s tracks totaled about 31,000 miles

(49,890 km) and connected many cities. They formed a network that united the Midwest and the East. Transportation and the West The impact of improved transportation was felt deeply in the western areas of the country. Before canals and railroads, farmers sent their crops down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. From there, goods sailed to the East Coast or to other countries. This took a considerable amount of time and often caused goods to be more expensive. Railways and canals transformed trade in these regions. The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 and later the railroad networks allowed grain, livestock, and dairy products to move directly from the Midwest to the East. Life in the North and the South 363

PHOTO: Library of Congress, Washington, DC; TEXT: Taney, Roger B. “Decision in Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge et al.,” in Reports of Cases Argued and Adjudged in the Supreme Court of the United States, January Term, 1837, edited by Richard Peters. Philadelphia: Desilver, Thomas & Co., 1837.