Marbury V. Madison 1803: Case Study

John McCollum

Curtis Lewis

APUSH

Period 5

October 28th 2015

Case Briefs

Marbury V. Madison, 1803:
Background: Thomas Jefferson had beat John Adams and became President on February 17, 1801. Although Jefferson did not take office until March 4, 1801 it kept Adams and the Federalists in congress. Congress had passed the Judiciary Act of 1801 which established ten new district courts. This made the circuit courts expand from three to six, and it made it so that they put more judges into each court. On March 3, one day before Jefferson was to come into office, Adams appointed sixteen Federalist judges to the circuit courts. These who were appointed were “Midnight Judges” and one of these was William Marbury.
Question: What happens if congress

This important decision was the very first occurence that the federal court overturned a state court.
Court Findings: It was decided that even if the land was sold illegally the purchase under the constitution is still a legally binding contract.
McCulloch V. Maryland, 1819:
Background: The state of Maryland attempted to destroy the Federal Government Bank, by imposing taxes on its notes not chartered in Maryland.
Question: In the decision the Federal government was granted by the court to pass laws not completely covered in the constitution so long as those laws are useful in the support of congress and not contradicting the constitution.
Court Findings: The Bank was declared constitutional and denied Maryland's right to tax. It's important to note that a state's action may not obstruct any constitutional action by the federal government.
Dartmouth V. Woodward, 1819:
Background: Dartmouth college had a charter that predated the state of New Hampshire. New hampshire wished to change the charter granted to dartmouth by King George in 1769. New Hampshire wanted to have control of Dartmouth and the charter in its own state

The Federal Court's decision stated New Hampshire couldn't override a private charter just because they didn't agree with it
Court Findings: The court ruled in favor of the Original private charter. This decision made it so that a private business couldn't be messed with by state government.
Gibbons V. Ogden, 1824:
Background: New york tried to privately grant monopoly of water related commerce between New York and New Jersey. This is about the right to commercially do business from state to state.
Question: Congress is the only one who controlled inter state commerce. Is it possible for a shipping company that crosses from state to state be represented by its original state?
Court Findings: New York did not have constitutional rights to grant inter state commerce. The commerce clause determined that the Federal Government had the power over interstate commerce.
Worcester V. Georgia, 1832:
Background: The state tried to impose laws on Native American lands. Samuel Worcester was put in jail for living on Native American land in Georgia without a state