President Andrew Jackson is said to have responded to the Supreme Court's ruling in Worcester v. Georgia with the words "[Chief Justice] John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it!" Which of the following best explains the meaning of this statement?
(1 point)
Responses
The Supreme Court favored Georgia over the Cherokee people, so its decision was not valid.
The Supreme Court favored Georgia over the Cherokee people, so its decision was not valid.
The Supreme Court does not have the power to enforce its decision, so President Jackson could ignore it.
The Supreme Court does not have the power to enforce its decision, so President Jackson could ignore it.
According to the Constitution, the president has the power to deal with Native Americans, not the Supreme Court.
According to the Constitution, the president has the power to deal with Native Americans, not the Supreme Court.
The president is responsible for enforcing the law, including decisions made by the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court does not have the power to enforce its decision, so President Jackson could ignore it.
(1 point)
The Supreme Court favored Georgia over the Cherokee people, so its decision was not valid.
The Supreme Court does not have the power to enforce its decision, so President Jackson could ignore it.
According to the Constitution, the president has the power to deal with Native Americans, not the Supreme Court.
The president is responsible for enforcing the law, including decisions made by the Supreme Court.
The best explanation for President Andrew Jackson's statement, "John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it!" is that the Supreme Court does not have the power to enforce its decisions, so President Jackson could ignore it. This statement reflects Jackson's belief in a strong executive power and his refusal to abide by a Supreme Court ruling that he disagreed with. To understand this meaning, it is important to understand the context in which this statement was made.
In Worcester v. Georgia, the Supreme Court ruled that the Cherokee nation was entitled to federal protection from the state of Georgia's efforts to remove them from their ancestral lands. However, President Jackson vehemently opposed the ruling and favored the state of Georgia in this matter. By saying, "John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it!", Jackson was essentially saying that while the Supreme Court had made its decision, it did not have the power to enforce it and he would not take action to enforce it either.
This statement highlights the tension between the three branches of government - the executive, legislative, and judicial - and Jackson's belief in a strong executive power with regards to dealing with Native Americans. So, the correct response is: The Supreme Court does not have the power to enforce its decision, so President Jackson could ignore it.