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Creation of Supreme Court
Article III of the U.S. Constsitution calls for the cretion of the Supreme Court. It was then created by the Judiciary Act of September 24, 1798. It was organized on Febuary 2, 1790. This event is significant because before this there was not a federal supreme court. -
John Jay
Served as the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. During his justice ship the Court developed as a central part of the federal governement and heard four cases. These early years and four cases were essential to the growth of the Supreme court. He stepped down on June 29, 1795 and became the governor of New York. John Jay is significant in the history of the Supreme Court because he helped its early deveopment as the first chief justice. -
John Marshall
John Marshall was influential in the development of the Supreme court as the Chief Justice from January 31, 1801 to his death on July 6, 1835. Marshall is siognificant because it was during his term that the Supreme Court evolved from having a minor role in the federal government to becoming an equal third branch. -
Marbury v. Madison
William Marbury, who had been appointed as Justice of the Peace in the District of Columbia, petitioned the Supreme Court to force James Madison, to deliver the documents concerning his commission, according to the Judiciary Act of 1789. The Supreme Court, under John Marshall denied his pettion, declaring the Judiciary Act of 1789 unconstitutional. This was significant because it was the first time the court declared something unconstitutional and began the concept of "judicial review." -
Fletcher v. Peck
In this case, there was a disagreement between two land specualtors that hinged on the issue of whether or not Native Americans owned their land. A previous law, the Yazoo Land Act of 1795, was repealed by a state legislature. The Supreme Court unanimously voted the repeal void because it was unconstitutinal. This case is significant because it shows how the Court began to gain more power when it came to state governments and declaring actions unconstitutional. -
Dartmouth College v. Woodard
In this case, the legislature of New Hampshire attempted to force Dartmouth College to become a public institution. This would have given the governor the power to appoint te college's trustees. The Supreme Court, under Chief Justice John Marshall, upheld the college's charter. This action protected the sanctity of a charter and promoted the business charter. This case was significant because the Supreme Court invalidated a ruling by a state legislature and protected a private charter. -
McCulloch v. Maryland
The state of Maryland had imposed a tax on the Second Bank of the United States. The Supreme Court invoked the Necessary and Proper Clause of the Constitution which allowed the federal government to have some freedom in making laws. Because of this, the court determined that Congress had the power to create the bank and that to tax the bank went against the Constitution. This case is significant because the court protected the federal bank which had been created by Congress, from a state. -
Gibbons v. Ogden
This case wwas centered around the issue of regulating interstate trade commerce. There was a conflict between the commerce rights granted by Congress and commerce privileges granted by the legislature of New York. The Supreme Court asserted that the monopoly granted by Congress was the superior one, according to the Commerce Clause of the Constsitution. This case is significant because the court affirmed the superiority and power of the federal government over a state legislature. -
Worcester v. Georgia
in this case John Marshall and the Supreme Court establishe4d the sovereignty of Native American Nations. Although eventually ignored by the president, Andrew Jackson, Marshall ruled that The US inherited the rights of Great Britain and therefore had exclusive rights to trade with the Native Americans bu not the power to take their land or establish laws over them. Bloody Jackson disagreed. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford
In this case, Dred Scott, a slave, sued John Sanford who was the executor of Scott's late master's estate. The Supreme Court, led by southern democrat leaning Roger Taney, ruled that Scott should not be freed even though he had lived in free states during his life. This decision was decisive in that it expressed that blacks slaves and their descendants whether free or slave could never be U.S. citizens and were not protected by the Constitution.
