AP US History in 1 Minute Daily: The Marshall Court (Day 78/309)

Welcome to today’s explanation of the Marshall Court in my series- APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!

Branches of Government, Street Civics

While Jefferson sought to uphold Democratic-Republican principles of a limited federal government, the judicial branch was establishing their authority as an equal branch of government.

John Marshall, Wikimedia Commons

Chief Justice John Marshall, a Federalist, believed in a loose interpretation of the Constitution and implied powers. The Marshall Court, as the Supreme Court was called while under the leadership of John Marshall, occurred from 1801 to 1835.

The Justices are seated on the dais on the far side of the chamber in this evening session of the House of Representatives, c. 1822. Supreme Court Historical Society

Through several landmark cases, he strengthened the central government at the expense of states rights. By citing the Supremacy Clause, the Marshall Court established that the federal Constitution and federal law took precedence over state laws and constitutions.

McCulloch v. Maryland, Wikimedia Commons

This was seen in McCulloch v. Maryland when the Court ruled that states cannot tax a national institution and in Gibbons v. Ogden, which held that Congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce.

Through the Marshall Court, the powers of the judiciary were used to establish the supremacy of the federal government over state laws. 

Join me tomorrow as I explain Marbury v. Madison in the next APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!