Determining a ruling for any court case is a rigorous process of examining the minutia of each case. For some cases, context is everything to determining a ruling. In the cases of Minersville School District v. Gobitis and West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, historical context is integral to determining the rationale for the court’s decision. Within just three years, from 1940 to 1943, the court completely reversed its ruling on compulsory flag salutes in public schools, now allowing for children to not participate in the daily flag salute if they have a conscientious objection. The key piece of the puzzle regarding this odd case is the international political scene surrounding the two cases. With the rise of Hitler and fascism in Germany, the court realized the eerie comparison with Germany and American nationalism and concluded that the state can not force upon anybody a certain political perspective that they do not agree with.…show more content… In Germany, Hitler and his Fascist reign was dominated through indoctrination and intimidation tactics against any dissidents. The infamous “Heil Hitler” salute with a flat palm outstretched at a forty-five degree angle above the head was one of these indoctrination tactics. Hitler suppressed any political dissent justifying it as promoting national cohesion and security. To him, the state came before the rights of any individual. In 1940, although World War 2 had started in Europe and Hitler had already risen to power, America did not join in the war until 1941, right in the timespan between Gobitis and
