John Marshall was an influential figure in the development of the American government and the Supreme Court. He served as the fourth Chief Justice of the United States from 1801 to 1835. Marshall's rulings significantly strengthened the power of the federal government and the authority of the Supreme Court. He established the principle of judicial review in the landmark case Marbury v. Madison in 1803, which granted the Court the power to declare laws unconstitutional. This decision established the Court as the final arbiter of the Constitution. Throughout his tenure, Marshall also consistently handed down decisions that protected the interests of businesses and promoted economic growth. His decisions, such as McCulloch v. Maryland and Gibbons v. Ogden, expanded federal power and solidified the supremacy of national laws over state laws. Overall, John Marshall's tenure as Chief Justice greatly influenced and shaped the American government and significantly strengthened the role of the Supreme Court.
