"John Marshalls forceful personality and many opinions and decisions established the fourth chief justice of the Supreme Court as the most significant figure of the courts early years. This book contains some of his landmark decisions as well as other writings by Marshall"--"John Marshalls strong personality and many Supreme Court decisions established the fourth chief justice as the most significant figure in the courts early years. His interpretation of the Constitution profoundly influenced the federal judiciarys authority over state courts and laws and wielded an enormous impact on American commerce. This volume contains some of Marshalls landmark decisions-Marbury v. Madison, Fletcher v. Peck, Dartmouth College v. Woodward, McCulloch v. Maryland, Cohens v.

Virginia, and Gibbons v. Ogden-as well as his autobiographical account, his speech about ratifying the Constitution, and the preface to his biography of George Washington. Marshalls writings are essential reading for students, lawyers, politicians, and anyone interested in understanding the Supreme Courts powerful role in the US government and its laws. "--.