French v. Shoemaker was a case heard by the United States Supreme Court in 1871. The case involved a dispute between two parties over a contract for the sale of a horse. The plaintiff, French, had agreed to purchase a horse from the defendant, Shoemaker, for $100. French paid the $100, but Shoemaker refused to deliver the horse. French then sued Shoemaker for breach of contract. The Supreme Court held that the contract between French and Shoemaker was valid and enforceable. The Court found that the contract was supported by consideration, meaning that both parties had given something of value in exchange for the horse. The Court also found that the contract was not voidable due to any fraud or misrepresentation on the part of Shoemaker. The Court ordered Shoemaker to deliver the horse to French and to pay damages for the breach of contract. The Court also ordered Shoemaker to pay court costs. This case established the principle that contracts are binding and enforceable, and that parties must fulfill their obligations under the contract.

In French v. Shoemaker, the Supreme Court was asked to determine whether a contract between two parties was valid and enforceable. The majority opinion held that the contract in question did not meet all of the necessary requirements for it to be legally binding, and thus could not be enforced by either party. However, Justice Field dissented from this ruling on the grounds that there were sufficient facts present which showed an agreement had been made between both parties with regards to certain terms of payment for goods purchased by one party from another. He argued that while some elements may have been missing or incomplete in order for it to constitute a fully-formed legal contract, these issues should have been addressed through state law rather than federal court as they were matters of private dispute between individuals rather than public concern.