Which Supreme Court case is known for protecting property rights and the right to invalidate state laws conflicting with the Constitution?

The case Fletcher v. Peck is significant because it was the first instance in which the Supreme Court struck down state legislation as unconstitutional, thereby firmly establishing the principle that state laws cannot conflict with the Constitution. This case originated from a land dispute in Georgia where the state legislature had invalidated land grants that had been previously approved. The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice John Marshall, ruled that the Georgia law violated the Contract Clause of the Constitution, which protects the sanctity of contracts and property rights.

This ruling set a precedent for future cases involving property rights and reinforced the ability of the Supreme Court to invalidate state laws that are inconsistent with federal law or the Constitution. The decision emphasized the importance of maintaining a stable and predictable legal framework concerning property and contractual matters, thereby furthering the development of the rule of law within the United States.