![]() Like his father he fought in the Revolutionary War and married into a prominent family. ![]() He was the son of Thomas Marshall, a wealthy landowner, Justice of the Peace, and sheriff. Marshall was born September 24, 1755, near Germantown (now Midland), Virginia. Historians credit him with establishing what has been called the American judicial tradition, in which the Supreme Court acts as an independent branch of government endowed with final authority over constitutional interpretation. He weathered harsh criticism as the Court set important precedents that increased its power and defined its role in government. By the force of personality, argument, and shrewdness, Marshall steered it through this rocky yet formative period. ![]() The early nineteenth century saw tremendous political battles over the future of the United States and its Constitution, often with the Court at the center of controversy. ![]() Appointed by President John Adams, Marshall assumed leadership during a pivotal era. ![]()
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