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Creation of the Supreme Court - Article 3 of the Constitution
This article gave judicial power to the supreme court. It gave right to trial by jury to all cases, except impeachment. It also defined the term treason. This was an important article because it gave judicial rights to the people. It established a way to interpret and enforce laws. -
John Jay
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John Jay
John Jay was a representative for New York at both the first and second constitutional congress. He helped writhe "The Federalist Papers" and negotiated peace with France in the Treaty of 1783. He served as the first chief justice under Washington. Jay left office in 1795 to become the governor in New York. -
John Marshall
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John Marshall
John Marshall was appointed to the supreme court by John Adams. Marshal favored the central government and the rights of property against states' rights. His first major decision was "Marbury v. Madison," where the principle of judicial review was established. Judicial review would be a very important concept later in the government. Marshall also helped establish more judicial principles in many of his cases. -
Marbury v. Madison
Jefferson was unhappy because Adams had made Federalist appointments last minute with Federalist judges. Jefferson blocked these commissions but was sued by William Marbury. While it was ruled that Marbury had a right to his commission, Marshall said the Judiciary Act itself was unconstitutional. Because of this, Marbury was not given his commission. This case established the doctrine of judicial review. -
Fletcher v. Peck
This case concerned land fraud in Georgia. Private speculators bought land from members of the Georgia legislature. The following year, a new Georgia legislature rescinded the sale. Marshal ruled that the original sale was bound by a legal contract. This ruling protected property rights against popular pressures and showed the Supreme Court's right to invalidate state laws if deemed unconstitutional. -
Dartmouth College v. Woodward
In this case, New Hampshire wanted to change Dartmouth College from a private college to a public college. Marshall said this was unconstitutional because a private contract could not be altered by the state. This helped protect private coorporation rights. -
McCulloch v. Maryland
Maryland had placed a tax on the Bank of the United States in order to protect its local banks. The Bank of the United States refused to pay and the case was taken to Marshall. Marshall ruled that the government had the implied power to create banks and a state could not tax a federal institution because federal laws were supreme. This ruling strengthened the implied powers of Congress and federal authority. -
Gibbons v. Virginia
This case, known as the "steamboat case," involved regulation of interstate commerce. A monopoly of steamboat navigation was taking place on the Hudson. Aaron Ogden purchased rights to operate a ferry between New York and New Jersey. He sued Thomas Gibbons, who had set up a competeing line. Marshall decided in favor of Gibbons, which reminded the people that Congress had control of inerstate commerce. This upheld the Marshall's view of a sovereign government power. -
Cherokee Nation v. Georgia
In this case, the Cherokee Nation said that their rights were being deprived. Also, their lands were to be taken from them unjustly. They took it to the courts and attempted to sue Goergia. However, the Supreme Court ruled that the Cherokees did not have the right to sue in federal court, because they were not a foreign nation. -
Worcester v. Georgia
In this second case, following the Cherokee Nation v. Georgia, it was ruled that the laws could not be enforced within the Cherokee territory. However, Georgia ignored this ruling and continued to mistreat the Cherokee. At that time, Andrew Jackson was president and he sided with the states, despite the court ruling. Eventually, this led to Indian removal. -
Commonwealth v. Hunt
In this case, it was ruled that a labor union was not considered a criminal conspiracy. People could unite together for a cause as long as it was not considered criminal. They were safe from presecution unless their actions or purpose broke the law. This case took place during the earlier part of the Industrial Revolution. Employees were not sure that thier rights could be protected. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Dred Scott had been a slave in Missouri and was then taken to free territory, where he lived until his return to Missouri. He argued that because he had lived on free soil he was a free citizen. He sued for his freedom. Most of the court was against Scott because he was African and not considered a citizen. Also, Congress did not have the power to deprive a person of property, which a slave was considered. The Supreme Court then declared all parts of western territories open to slavery. -
Maples v. Thomas
Maples was unable to appeal his death sentence because the mailroom returned a court order unopened with "Retern to Sender-Left Firm." Maples argued that the late petition was not his fault and was actually partially the state's fault.
