John Marshall In early American history, the powers of the executive and legislative branches of the government were already well defined. However, the judicial branch needed to establish its position as an equal of the other two branches. John Marshall was crucial in making this happen. His many controversial decisions helped to shape the government of today. When Marshall was called “a stumbling block and impediment in the way of democratic principles” the writer was …showed first 75 words of 293 total…

…showed last 75 words of 293 total…States. The Supreme Court answered two questions in that ruling. They said that Congress did have the right to charter a bank, and that states did not have to ability to tax them. Marshall was a strong leader of the Supreme Court. His leadership brought belated prosperity to the United States. His many crucial decisions paved the way for the advance of the American economy, at the price of the power of the state governments.