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Creation of the Supreme Court
It was added by Article III of the Constitution. Its main role is to interperate the laws set up by the constitution. It is part of the judiciary branch. -
John Jay
John Jay a member of the Continental Congress and made influencial decisions in drafting the Constitution. Along with James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, he wrote The Federalist Papers, which were important documents published to convince the community to ratify the Constitution.
Johy Jay was elected the first Cheif Justice of the Supreme Court under the new Constitution by George Washington. He also wrote the Jay Treaty which ended conflict with the British along the Western Border. -
John Marshall
John Marshall was a Federalist Judge who was elected to be the second Chief Justice of the Supreme Court during the final months of John Adams time of President. He made many influencial decisions which strengthened the central government of America. He created the ideal of judicial review which is the process of deciding something was unconstitutional. This gave more power to the Judiciary branch which gave them the power to overrule the other two branches of the government. -
Marbury vs. Madison
This is the beginning of the Marbury vs. Madison case. President Jefferson wanted to get rid of the Federalist judges John Adams had elected at the end of his term. Jefferson ordered his Secretary of State James Madison not to give them their commisions and William Marbury sued.John Marshal found that the federal law, granted him his commision, but he also found that this Act was unconstitutional. Therefore, Marbury could not recieve his commision. The federal law was the Judiciary Act of 1789 -
Fletcher vs. Peck
This was a case involving a land fraud in Georgia. Judge John Marshal decided that a state could not pass "legislation invalidating a contract." (Amscoe 144) This was important because it was the first time a STATE law was proven unconstitutional. (Marbury vs. Madison was a FEDERAL law). -
McCulloch vs. Maryland
This case involved two main questions: "Did congress have the ability to create banks even if they were not granted this right in the Constitution?" and "Could a state place taxes on a bank created federally?" Maryland wanded to collect taxes from the Second Bank of the United States. Marshall decided that the Constitution implied the power for Congress to create banks and that states could not place taxes on a federal institution because that is a FEDERAL responsibility. -
Dartmouth College vs. Woodword
There was a law put into effect in New Hampshire which changed Dartmouth College from a privately charted college into a insitution to the public. Judge John Marshal found the law to be unconstitutional because one could not alter a contract for a private corporation. -
Gibbons vs. Ogden
The case of Gibbons vs. Ogden involved the state of New York granting a monopoly to the steam boat company. The Marshall court decided this was unconstitutional because the federal goverenment controlled interstate commerce rather than the state of New York. -
Cherokee Nation v. Georgia
Georgia set up a number of unfair laws which stipped the Cherokee's of their basic rights. The Cherokees took Georgia to court. The Supreme Court declared that the Cherokees were a "depended nation to the United States" so the Supreme Court had "no original jurisdiction" -
Worcester v. Georgia
In this case Georgia was trying to force the Cherokee Indians out of their territory. John Marshall decided the laws of Georgia did not have the power to tell the Native Americans what to do. Surprisingly Andrew Jackson supported John Marshall. He said "John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it." -
Commonwealth v. Hunt
In Massachusetts. This decided that it was alright for "peaceful unions" to argue for better labor contracts with their employer. This led to a small improvement for workers in that they had 10 hour days, but their conditions were still rough. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Dred Scott was a slave who was freed. He resided (freely) in Wisonsin until two years later he returned to Missouri. He felt he should be considered free due to the fact he lived on free soil for two years. The supreme court (currently Chief Justice Roger Taney) decided 1.) Dred Scott did not have the Constitutional right to sue because he was black. 2.) Congress could not take away someones property. 3.) The Missouri Compromise made Wisconsin a free state along with northern states so the law -
Maples v. Thomas
In this case, Cory Maples was sentence for the death penalty and was going to apply for an appeal. He had recently switched attorneys and his court order was sent to Maples' old attorneys. The attorneys did the proper thing and returned the letter with a "return to sender" notice, but when it arrived back at the court it was placed in a drawer and forgotten.
