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'''John Marshall''' (1755-1835) was one of the [[United States Supreme Court]]'s most influential [[Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court|Chief Justices]].  He was a leading [[Federalist Party|Federalist]] and was appointed by President [[John Adams]] as [[Secretary of State]] and then Chief Justice.  

'''John Marshall''' (1755-1835) was one of the [[United States Supreme Court]]'s most influential [[Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court|Chief Justices]].  He was a leading [[Federalist Party|Federalist]] and was appointed by President [[John Adams]] as [[Secretary of State]] and then Chief Justice.  

His [[activist judge|influential]] rulings reshaped American government, making the Supreme Court the final arbiter of the Constitution, with power to overrule the president, Congress, the states, and all lower courts. He fought to protect the rights of individuals and corporations against intrusive state governments. Marshall, along with [[Daniel Webster]] (who argued some of the cases), was the leading conservative of the day, expressive Federalist approaches to build a strong nation over the opposition of [[Thomas Jefferson]] and the liberals, who wanted stronger state governments.  

His [[activist judge|influential]] rulings reshaped American government, making the Supreme Court the final arbiter of the Constitution, with power to overrule the president, Congress, the states, and all lower courts. He fought to protect the rights of individuals and corporations against intrusive state governments. Marshall, along with [[Daniel Webster]] (who argued some of the cases), was the leading conservative of the day, expressive Federalist approaches to build a strong nation over the opposition of [[Thomas Jefferson]] and the liberals, who wanted stronger state governments.  

Marshall's most important rulings include: ''[[Cohens v. Virginia]]'', ''[[Flecher v. Peck]]'', ''[[Gibbons v. Ogden]]'', ''[[Marbury v. Madison]]'', ''[[McCulloch v. Maryland]]'', ''[[Trustees of Dartmouth College v. Woodward]]'', and ''[[Worcester v. Georgia]]''.  

Marshall's most important rulings include: ''[[Cohens v. Virginia]]'', ''[[Flecher v. Peck]]'', ''[[Gibbons v. Ogden]]'', ''[[Marbury v. Madison]]'', ''[[McCulloch v. Maryland]]'', ''[[Trustees of Dartmouth College v. Woodward]]'', and ''[[Worcester v. Georgia]]''.  

During his thirty-four years as head of the [[Supreme Court]] he judged over 1,100 cases, 519 of which he wrote the rulings for.<ref> Paul  Johnson, ''A History of the American People,''  (1988) page 237</ref> Marshall was in the dissenting minority only eight times throughout his tenure at the court because of his control over the associate justices. As one observer at the time noted, Marshall had the knack of "putting his own ideas into the minds of others, unconsciously to them"<ref> George Gibbs, ''Memoirs of the Administrations of Washington and John Adams,'' (1846), vol. II, p. 350</ref>

During his thirty-four years as head of the [[Supreme Court]] he judged over 1,100 cases, 519 of which he wrote the rulings for.<ref> Paul  Johnson, ''A History of the American People,''  (1988) page 237</ref> Marshall was in the dissenting minority only eight times throughout his tenure at the court because of his control over the associate justices. As one observer at the time noted, Marshall had the knack of "putting his own ideas into the minds of others, unconsciously to them"<ref> George Gibbs, ''Memoirs of the Administrations of Washington and John Adams,'' (1846), vol. II, p. 350</ref>

 

Marshall had charm, humor, a quick intelligence, and the ability to bring men together. Above all, he had patriotism, sincerity and presence that commanded attention  His opinions were workmanlike but not eloquent in style or subtle; and his learning in the law was not deep.  What distinguished him was the force of his intellect, steadfast purpose, and a confident vision of the future greatness he wanted his nation to achieve; these qualities are seen in his historic decisions and gave him the sobriquet, ''The Great Chief Justice''.  

Marshall had charm, humor, a quick intelligence, and the ability to bring men together. Above all, he had patriotism, sincerity and presence that commanded attention  His opinions were workmanlike but not eloquent in style or subtle; and his learning in the law was not deep.  What distinguished him was the force of his intellect, steadfast purpose, and a confident vision of the future greatness he wanted his nation to achieve; these qualities are seen in his historic decisions and gave him the sobriquet, ''The Great Chief Justice''.  

==Life==

==Life==

He was a leader in the 1788 Virginia convention that, after an intense struggle, ratified the proposed U.S. Constitution. Marshall worked closely with [[James Madison]], against the anti-Federalists led by [[Patrick Henry]].  In the early 1790s as Treasury Secretary [[Alexander Hamilton]] was building alliances with state and local leaders, Marshall became leader of the [[Federalist Party]] in the state. He declined to serve as [[George Washington]]'s attorney generalship. In 1797 President [[John Adams]] appointed him to a delegation that went to France seeking peace, but was humiliated in the [[XYZ Affair]]. In 1799 Marshall was elected to Congress and in May 1800 he became secretary of state for Adams.

He was a leader in the 1788 Virginia convention that, after an intense struggle, ratified the proposed U.S. Constitution. Marshall worked closely with [[James Madison]], against the anti-Federalists led by [[Patrick Henry]].  In the early 1790s as Treasury Secretary [[Alexander Hamilton]] was building alliances with state and local leaders, Marshall became leader of the [[Federalist Party]] in the state. He declined to serve as [[George Washington]]'s attorney generalship. In 1797 President [[John Adams]] appointed him to a delegation that went to France seeking peace, but was humiliated in the [[XYZ Affair]]. In 1799 Marshall was elected to Congress and in May 1800 he became secretary of state for Adams.

==Chief Justice ==

==Chief Justice ==

At the last minute (January 1801) Adams appointed a series of federal judges (the "Midnight Judges") including Marshall as chief justice of the United States. The three previous chief justices had left little permanent mark beyond setting up the forms of office.  The Supreme Court, like the state supreme courts, was a minor organ of government.  In his 34 year tenure Marshall made it a third coequal branch, which it remains today.  With his associate justices, especially [[Joseph Story]], William Johnson, and Bushrod Washington, Marshall's Court defined the constitutional standards of the new nation. The great work of the Marshall Court was done in a handful of great cases: Marbury v. Madison, 1 Cranch 137; McCulloch v. Maryland, 4 Wheat. 316; Cohens v. Virginia, 6 Wheat. 264; Gibbons v. Ogden, 9 Wheat 1; and a few others.

At the last minute (January 1801) Adams appointed a series of federal judges (the "Midnight Judges") including Marshall as chief justice of the United States. The three previous chief justices had left little permanent mark beyond setting up the forms of office.  The Supreme Court, like the state supreme courts, was a minor organ of government.  In his 34 year tenure Marshall made it a third coequal branch, which it remains today.  With his associate justices, especially [[Joseph Story]], William Johnson, and Bushrod Washington, Marshall's Court defined the constitutional standards of the new nation. The great work of the Marshall Court was done in a handful of great cases: Marbury v. Madison, 1 Cranch 137; McCulloch v. Maryland, 4 Wheat. 316; Cohens v. Virginia, 6 Wheat. 264; Gibbons v. Ogden, 9 Wheat 1; and a few others.

===Marbury v. Madison===

===Marbury v. Madison===