Meyer v. Nebraska: What a Century-Old Case Says About Liberty, Education, and the Direction We're Headed

In 1923, a quiet classroom in Hampton, Nebraska became the stage for one of the most important constitutional decisions in U.S. history. At its core was a single act: a teacher instructing a 10-year-old student in German. But Meyer v. Nebraska wasn’t just about foreign language education. It redefined liberty, shaped the doctrine of substantive due process, and laid the groundwork for landmark civil rights decisions that still define personal freedom in America today.

The Case That Started It All: What Happened in Meyer v. Nebraska?

Following World War I, anti-German sentiment swept through the United States. In Nebraska, lawmakers passed a statute that prohibited teachers from instructing students in any language other than English until after the eighth grade. The law was part of a broader wave of cultural suppression meant to enforce a homogenous American identity.

Robert Meyer, a teacher at a Lutheran parochial school, was convicted for teaching German to a 10-year-old student. The conviction was challenged, and the case made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court’s Ruling: Liberty Under the Fourteenth Amendment

The Supreme Court struck down the Nebraska law, holding that it violated the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Writing for the majority, Justice James C. McReynolds emphasized that “liberty” under the Constitution isn’t just about freedom from physical restraint. It includes the right to engage in common occupations, acquire knowledge, marry, raise children, and practice religion—all without unnecessary government interference.

This decision marked a pivotal moment in the development of substantive due process—the idea that certain personal freedoms are so fundamental that the government cannot infringe on them, even if those rights aren’t explicitly spelled out in the Constitution.

The Long Reach of Meyer v. Nebraska: Substantive Due Process and Civil Liberties

Meyer’s influence didn’t stop in Nebraska. It helped shape a century of constitutional jurisprudence, becoming a cornerstone for future rulings on civil liberties and personal autonomy. Key cases that built on Meyer include:

• Pierce v. Society of Sisters (1925): Affirmed the right of parents to choose private education for their children.

• Griswold v. Connecticut (1965): Recognized the right of married couples to access birth control.

• Roe v. Wade (1973): Extended privacy rights to reproductive decisions (later overturned).

• Lawrence v. Texas (2003): Invalidated laws criminalizing same-sex intimacy.

• Obergefell v. Hodges (2015): Legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

Each of these cases relied on the foundational idea that liberty includes deeply personal decisions—how we raise our families, who we love, and how we live.

Today’s Legal Landscape: Why Meyer Still Matters

The questions at the heart of Meyer—about who decides how children are educated and what liberties individuals can exercise—are far from settled.

Across the country, we’re seeing growing efforts to control classroom content, ban books, and restrict discussions about race, gender identity, and history. These efforts echo the same impulses behind Nebraska’s English-only law a century ago: fear, conformity, and cultural control.

At the same time, the doctrine of substantive due process has come under renewed scrutiny. In Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022), the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade, with some justices openly questioning the legitimacy of the very doctrine that Meyer helped establish. Justice Clarence Thomas, in his concurrence, suggested the Court should reconsider other landmark cases, including Lawrence and Obergefell.

The same legal principle that once protected a teacher’s right to instruct in German is now at the center of debates about privacy, marriage, bodily autonomy, and education.

A Nebraska Case, A National Legacy

Meyer v. Nebraska reminds us that liberty is more than just the absence of government force—it’s the freedom to live according to your values. To choose how your children are educated. To speak your language. To love whom you love. To make decisions about your own body and your own future.

It also reminds us that these freedoms can’t be taken for granted. They must be protected, often in the face of fear or political pressure. And sometimes, the defense of those rights begins in unexpected places—like a small classroom in Nebraska.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What was Meyer v. Nebraska about?

Meyer v. Nebraska was a 1923 U.S. Supreme Court case that struck down a Nebraska law banning foreign language instruction to young students. The Court ruled that the law violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause.

What is substantive due process?

Substantive due process is a constitutional doctrine that protects certain fundamental personal rights—even if they’re not explicitly listed in the Constitution—from government interference.

Why is Meyer v. Nebraska important?

The case expanded the interpretation of liberty under the Fourteenth Amendment and laid the groundwork for major civil rights decisions involving privacy, education, and family autonomy.

How did Meyer influence Roe v. Wade and Obergefell v. Hodges?

Both cases relied on substantive due process to affirm deeply personal rights: reproductive autonomy in Roe and the right to marry in Obergefell. Meyer was one of the earliest cases to apply this principle.

Is substantive due process at risk?

Yes. In Dobbs v. Jackson, the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade and cast doubt on the validity of substantive due process. Justice Thomas’s concurrence suggested revisiting other related decisions.

How does this case relate to Nebraska law?

Meyer originated from a Nebraska statute targeting foreign language instruction. The case remains a key part of Nebraska’s legal legacy and a foundational moment in American constitutional law.