John Marshall Supreme Court Essay Example

but Marshall overturned it saying it was necessary and proper which shows that the Federal government overrules the state government. The state government needed to be weakened in order to balance out the powers between the federal and state government. John Marshall helped do so in these cases. McCulloch v. Maryland not only expanded the power of Congress, but at the same time it weakened the state government’s power.

Maryland attempting to tax the Bank of the U. S. as denied by John Marshall due to the fact that “the power to tax is the power to destroy. ” In the year 1816 a case questioning the compact theory arose.

It was the Martin v. Hunter Lessee case. The compact theory ended up being rejected by the Supreme Court when being reviewed. The state Supreme Court made the original statement trying to disregard the Treaty of Paris and Jay’s Treaty, but when the Supreme Court made the final decision the state tried to say they were equally sovereign when in fact the Supreme Court was more powerful.

Lastly, Marshall strengthened conditions for business and stable economy. He did so in two main cases.

They were Fletcher v. Peck and Dartmouth College v. Woodward. In Fletcher v. Peck New Georgia legislature canceled a contract and tried to get back their 35 million acres of land.

According to Marshall, it’s unconstitutional to invalidate contracts because they are a legally binding agreement which strengthens businesses that require a signed contract. The other case was Dartmouth College v. Woodward where a charter that was granted to Dartmouth by New Hampshire.

The charter tried to create a state tuition.

It

was successful because Marshall had previously stated that charters/contracts cannot be invalidated because they are legally binding. In conclusion John Marshall is the most significant Supreme Court Justice to have ever lived. He set many precedents and helped strengthen the national government, weaken the state government, and strengthen condition for businesses and stable economy. Without him the government would not nearly be as smooth running and have the power that it does today.