John Marshall's Legacy

Legacy of John Marshall

John Marshall served an astounding 35 years as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. His profound impact on the judicial branch and consolidation of power in federal government over that of the states, cannot be overstated. Appointed by President John Adams, Marshall often reflected Federalists ideals for a strong, powerful national government in his decisions, but was ultimately bound by justice, not political ideology. His strict adherence and deep understanding of the Constitution was omnipresent throughout his term until his death in 1835. By establishing the practice of judicial review of all Legislative and Executive actions, Marshall contributed greatly to a more equally divided separation of powers between branches of the federal government. In all his rulings, Marshall sets precedents for years to come spanning across the fields of trade, foreign nations. Chief Justice John Marshall served in a time of great political uncertainty and helped to form the United States into the steady, prosperous nation it is today. Linked to this pages is Federalist Paper #78, by Alexander Hamilton outlining the responsibilities and powers of the judicial branch in republican government. These papers were written to persuade New York delegates to ratify the Constitution, and are therefore riddled by rhetoric, but provide a great tool for further study on the Judicial Branch of the United States Government.

Chief Justice John Marshall enforced the precedent vaguely stated in the United States Constitution, which to that point in history had not been maximized to its potential. Marshall established the practice of judicial review by the almighty court of the United States on the constitutionality of any law on a state or federal level. This practice proved essential for countless years to come, and vital towards the Judicial Branch's unequivocal responsibility founded in the right to review. Judicial review has lead to countless influential decisions of the Supreme Court in major issues such as freedom of speech, search and seizure, presidential privilege, and all things related to the Constitution. Furthermore, in maintaining his vision for a strong, unified nation, Marshall often ruled in the favor of the federal government over the states. During Marshall's reign as Chief Justice the federal government's powers became expanded over the states', as Marshall argued they gave up some of their sovereignty while joining the Union. Marshall's decisions in cases such as McCulloch v. Maryland and Cohens v. Virginia, show his inclination to favor the Federal Government in matters of trade, commerce, and more. This consolidation of power on the federal level is critical to understanding the government we have today and is largely a result of John Marshall's Federalist inclinations. Lastly, Marshall Court demonstrates the process of judicial review further in dealing with tribes of the early 19th Century. These cases, however, also to serve the unjust treatment indicative of this time period to Native American people, and is one stain on the great contributions of Marshall Court. In conclusion, John Marshall's profound impact on contemporary politics is often understated but, it is of great thanks to judicial review we have the nation we have today.