John Marshall: The Chief Justice Who Saved The Nation
Harlow Giles Unger
Da Capo Press, 2014
John Marshall is one of the most important figures in
American History, yet so few people know anything about him. Born in a log
cabin in what was then the western frontier of the colony of Virginia he would
rise until he became the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Marshall was far
more than a mere Chief Justice. During his tenure on the court from 1801 – 1835
he would reinvent the Court and make it the powerful institution that it is
today. In Marbury v. Madison, Marshall would assert the power of the Court to
determine the constitutionality of a law passed by Congress. This particular duty
of the Supreme Court is so taken for granted today that we forget how
controversial it was at the time. President Thomas Jefferson, who did not want
an independent judiciary, did his best to undermine and destroy the power of
the Court. The Speaker of the House was a staunch Jefferson supporter and led
the charge to impeach Samuel Chase, one of the Justices. The hope was to
impeach and remove the judges who disagreed with Jefferson one by one until the
Court was packed with Jefferson supporters who would then undermine the power
of the Court. The trial of Justice Chase came back with a “not guilty” verdict
and Jefferson was handed a strong defeat. After this Marshall and the Court
would go on to carve out and define the power of the Court and establish precedents
that exist to this day.
Florence King once referred to Harlow Giles Unger as “America’s
most readable historian.” John Marshall proves once again that Mr. Unger has
not lost any of those skills. This volume is not a reference heavy tome meant
for the professional historian. It is an excellent introduction to both John
Marshall and his world. You do not need any outside knowledge to understand this
book and what is going on throughout this time period. Unger does not delve
deeply into the side characters so if you want to know more about men like
James Monroe, James Madison, and others then you will need to read about them.
Fortunately, there are many excellent books on those sources. Unger is
dedicated to his own subject and he does not fall prey to that Siren song that so
often entraps the historian: the rabbit trail. This book is recommended for
anyone who would like to know more about the history of the United States and
the foundation period when so much that we take for granted today came about.
Marshall is a fascinating subject and Unger brings him to life. We see the man
willing to disappoint President Washington and turn down important government
posts because of family duties. We see a man willing to stand up to Thomas
Jefferson and fight for the right to an independent judiciary. Captain, Congressman,
Secretary of State, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court are all official titles
that he held from the period of the Revolution until his death in 1835. Those
who knew him knew him as a son, husband, father, friend, patriot, a tireless
worker for the new Union. Harlow Giles Unger shows us all of these aspects and
gives us John Marshall.
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