Synopses & Reviews
A hero in America's war against British tyranny, John Marshall with his heroics as Chief Justice turned the Supreme Court into a bulwark against presidential and congressional tyranny and saved American democracy.In this startling biography, award-winning author Harlow Giles Unger reveals how Virginia-born John Marshall emerged from the Revolutionary War's bloodiest battlefields to become one of the nation's most important Founding Fathers: America's greatest Chief Justice. Marshall served his country as an officer, Congressman, diplomat, and Secretary of State before President John Adams named him the nation's fourth Chief Justice, the longest-serving in American history. Marshall transformed the Supreme Court from an irrelevant appeals court into a powerful branch of governmentand#151;and provoked the ire of thousands of Americans who, like millions today, accused him and the court of issuing decisions that were tantamount to new laws and Constitutional amendments.
And the Court's critics were right! Marshall admitted as much.
With nine decisions that shocked the nation, John Marshall and his court assumed powers to strike down laws it deemed unconstitutional. In doing so, Marshall's court acted without Constitutional authority, but its decisions saved American liberty by protecting individual rights and the rights of private business against tyranny by federal, state, and local government.
Review
Kirkus Reviews, 8/1/14
and#147;A cradle-to-grave biography of the U.S. Supreme Courtand#8217;s longest-serving chief justiceand#133;Unger chooses to present all aspects of Marshall's life, including his military heroism and his extraordinary devotion to a chronically ill wife and their childrenand#133;It is well-researched, and the author is skilled at portraying the characters and viewpoints of Marshalland#8217;s political friends and foes. Thomas Jefferson comes across as a stubborn, politically motivated and sometimes hypocritical man, and Unger employs the Marshall-Jefferson enmity effectively, adding tension to the narrative. A vigorous account of an influential American life.and#8221;
New York Post, 7/17/14
and#147;Read. Be proud of our country.and#8221;
Booklist, 9/15/14
and#147;Unger offers a comprehensive account of Marshalland#8217;s life and career that provides interesting insights into his personal qualities and political sympathiesand#133;But Unger is at his best covering the history-altering judicial activities of the court under Marshall, especially as the court clashed with the executive power of the Jefferson and Jackson administrationand#133;A well-done tribute to the man who made the judiciary a truly coequal branch of the national government.and#8221;
Synopsis
A soul-stirring biography of John Marshall, the young republic's great chief justice, who led the Supreme Court to power and brought law and order to the nation
Synopsis
A soul–stirring biography of John Marshall, the young republics great chief justice who led the Supreme Court to power and brought law and order to the nation.
In the political turmoil that convulsed America after George Washingtons death, the surviving Founding Fathers went mad–literally pummeling each other in Congress and challenging one another to deadly duels in their quest for power. Out of the political intrigue, one man emerged to restore calm and dignity to the government: John Marshall. The longest–serving chief justice in American history, Marshall transformed the Supreme Court from an irrelevant appeals court into the powerful and controversial branch of government that Americans today either revere or despise.
Drawing on rare documents, Harlow Giles Unger shows how, with nine key decisions, Marshall rewrote the Constitution, reshaped government, and prevented Thomas Jefferson from turning tyrant. John Adams called his appointment of Marshall to chief justice his greatest gift to the nation and the pride of my life.”
About the Author
An acclaimed historian, Harlow Giles Unger is a former Distinguished Visiting Fellow at George Washingtonand#8217;s Mount Vernon. He is the author of more than twenty books, including ten biographies of America's Founding Fathers and three histories of the early republic.