Vitale v.

Engel
Brittany Sapp and Jessica
Prasad
 Who?
 A group of parents sued a New York public school
 Hugo L. Black wrote the Supreme Court’s opinions
for this case.
 What caused this?
 The parents of the students in a New York public
school were upset because the school required
students by reciting a nondenominational prayer.
 “Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence
upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our
parents, our teachers, and our community”.
 This case was one of the first in a series of cases
in which a variety of religious activities were found
to violate the Establishment Clause. Neither the
voluntary nature of school prayers nor their the
nondenominational character protected them from
violating the Establishment Clause.
 Where was this?
 This was located in New Hyde Park, New York.
 The school was in Union Free District No. 9
 This case was held in the U.S. Supreme Court.
 When did this happen?
 Arguments were made in April 3, 1962.
 The Supreme Court ruled 7 to 1 that it was
unconstitutional for a government agency like a
school to require students to recite on June 25,
1962.
 This case was one of the first in a series of cases
in the 1960s which religious activities were found to
violate the Establishment Clause.
 Why is this ruling important?

 The Court ruled that government

written prayers could not be
required to be recited in public
schools and was
unconstitutional violation of the
Establishment Clause of the first
amendment.
 How it affects the U.S?
 This was one of the most important cases in the
history of the Supreme Court’s decisions.
 This was the first case which effectively prohibited
the government from sponsoring or endorsing
official prayers in school.
 Many Christian people were outraged that official
prayers were no longer permitted in schools, while
other non-Christian people supported this decision.