How Did John Marshall Improve The Power Of The Federal Courts?

John Marshall strengthened the power of the federal government by expanding the power of the federal judiciary. Becoming Supreme Court Justice in 1801, John Marshall defined the judicial branch as a power in the US government for the first time. Before this point in time the judicial branch was weak and served little purpose. The Supreme Court had little power to check and balance the legislative and executive branches as intended. Marshall’s rulings on controversial cases like Marbury v. Madison (1803), Fletcher v. Peck (1809), and McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) laid the foundation for what we know today as a powerful judicial branch.
Marbury v. Madison (1803) changed the role of the Supreme Court forever. The case started as a conflict of delivering court commissions, but ended as a precedent for the Supreme Court. During the case Marshall ruled that Section 13 of the Judiciary Act of 1789—authorizing the Supreme Court to issue writs to government officials—was unconstitutional. This began the practice declaring laws that
During the Revolutionary War, the Continental Army was in desperate need of supplies. However, when they asked the states for supplies and money they provided no help. The pressing need for a powerful federal government to supply the army made Marshall desire a strong central government. These events influenced John Marshall in all of his rulings; thus further spreading federalism in America. Federalism played a role in cases like Fletcher v. Peck (1809) and McCulloch v. Maryland (1819). In McCulloch v. Maryland, when Maryland tried to tax the federal bank the court ruled that Maryland had no right. Marshall stated that “The power to tax is the power to destroy.” In Fletcher v. Peck the Supreme Court ruled that no state can retract a private or public land contract. Both of these cases limited the power of state governments and strengthened the federal