Significant Supreme Court decisions from 1954 to the present have had profound and far-reaching impacts on American society, impacting both individual rights and the broader legal landscape. Landmark cases like Brown v. Board of Education challenged racial segregation, Gideon v. Wainwright ensured the right to counsel for all criminal defendants, and Roe v. Wade addressed reproductive rights, while more recent decisions, like Obergefell v. Hodges, have addressed same-sex marriage. Short-term impacts of these decisions often involved immediate legal changes and societal shifts. For example, Brown v. Board of Education triggered the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement and forced many states to integrate their public school systems. Miranda v. Arizona required police to inform individuals of their rights during custodial interrogation, leading to changes in law enforcement practices. Roe v. Wade had immediate implications for abortion access and legal status. Long-term impacts have been even more significant and continue to shape American society today. Brown v. Board of Education played a crucial role in dismantling the system of segregation and paving the way for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Gideon v. Wainwright ensured a fair justice system for all, regardless of financial status. Obergefell v. Hodges legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, impacting social and legal definitions of marriage.