What did Andrew Jackson mean when he said John Marshall has made his decision not let him enforce it?
Asked by: Oswaldo Glover | Last update: March 30, 2026Score: 4.7/5 (67 votes)
When Andrew Jackson allegedly said, "John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it," he meant the Supreme Court's ruling (in Worcester v. Georgia) was unenforceable because the President controlled the executive power to carry it out, not the judiciary, highlighting a constitutional standoff where Jackson refused to compel Georgia to respect Cherokee sovereignty, even though the famous quote is likely apocryphal, with his real words expressing the decision was "still born".
What did President Andrew Jackson mean when he said John Marshall has made his decision now let him enforce it?
While the story that Jackson remarked, “John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it,” is apocryphal (the quotation is believed to have first appeared in an 1864 book by newspaper publisher Horace Greeley), he wrote in a letter to a friend that the Court's decision was “still born,” and that the Court ...
What was John Marshall's opinion on Andrew Jackson?
Marshall had initially opposed Jackson's election to the presidency, and in the Cherokee Indians case, Worcester v. Georgia (1832), Marshall infuriated Jackson by insisting that Georgia laws that purported to seize Cherokee lands on which gold had been found violated federal treaties.
What does Marshall actually say in his decision?
“A Law repugnant to the Constitution is void.” With these words written by Chief Justice Marshall, the Supreme Court for the first time declared unconstitutional a law passed by Congress and signed by the President. Nothing stated in the Constitution gave the Court this specific power.
Who made the following statement: John Marshall has made his decision now let him enforce it?
In a popular quotation that is believed to be apocryphal, President Andrew Jackson reportedly responded: "John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it!" This quotation first appeared twenty years after Jackson's death in newspaper publisher Horace Greeley's 1865 history of the U.S. Civil War, The ...
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What was John Marshall's decision?
On February 24, 1803, Chief Justice Marshall delivered the opinion of the Supreme Court in Marbury v. Madison. In the opinion, the Court found that the President was subject to certain constitutional restraints that could be enforced by the Judiciary. It also found that the Court's powers were limited.
Did Andrew Jackson really defy the Supreme Court?
Other legal conflicts surfaced. Jackson allegedly defied the Supreme Court over Worcester v. Georgia (1832), announcing, "John Marshall has made his decision now let him enforce it." The case revolved around Georgia's attempt to apply state laws to Cherokee lands.
What did John Marshall say?
To listen well is as powerful a means of communication and influence as to talk well. The very essence of civil liberty certainly consists in the right of every individual to claim the protection of the laws, whenever he receives an injury.
Was the gift of John Marshall to the people of the United States was the proudest act of my life?
As the years passed, Adams congratulated himself for his wisdom. In 1825 he wrote, “The proudest act of my life was the gift of John Marshall to the people of the United States.”
How did Jefferson feel about Marshall's decision?
While President Thomas Jefferson did not like the part of Marshall's opinion declaring that Marbury had a right to receive his commission from Madison, Jefferson did not object to the opinion's argument that the Supreme Court could declare an act of Congress unconstitutional and therefore void.
What did John Marshall believe in?
He believed that those powers, though enumerated, should be construed expansively in order to accomplish the great ends of government. Though limited, federal power was supreme within its allotted sphere, superseding state power whenever there was a conflict.
What was Andrew Jackson's famous quote?
“Take the time to deliberate, but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.” “You must pay the price if you wish to receive the blessing.” Andrew Jackson was born on March 15, 1767, in the Waxhaws region between North Carolina and South Carolina.
Who didn't agree with the Constitution?
One of the most famous reasons for why certain delegates didn't sign was that the document lacked a legitimate Bill of Rights which would protect the rights of States and the freedom of individuals. Three main advocates of this movement were George Mason, Elbridge Gerry, and Edmund Randolph.
What did Jackson say about John Marshall?
And it's that ruling that is claimed to have provoked President Andrew Jackson into saying “John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it.” This quip is hauled out whenever someone wants to suggest that presidents have previously defied Supreme Court rulings.
What was Andrew Jackson fighting for?
The Age of Jackson
Though Jackson also fought hard to restore a nation of “We the People” and give voice to all those he represented as President, this expansion of democracy did not include everyone. Slavery remained a pervasive part of American society, as did the continuing displacement of Native Americans.
What was the basis of justice John Marshall's assertion that the federal courts have the power of judicial review Quizlet?
Marshall underscored the critical role of the judiciary in interpreting the Constitution. Since the Constitution does not provide exhaustive details for every possible legal issue, it is up to the courts to interpret its provisions and ensure that all laws comply with its principles.
Did John Marshall own slaves?
Marshall grew up in a slaveholding household and, in 1783, acquired his first slave, Robin Spurlock, a butler close in age to his own, as a wedding gift from his father. At the time of Marshall's death in 1835, he held nearly 200 individuals in bondage.
Who is the most powerful judge in the United States?
The most powerful judge in the United States is generally considered to be the Chief Justice of the United States, currently John G. Roberts, Jr., because he leads the Supreme Court, heads the entire federal judiciary, and holds significant influence in shaping legal precedent and the Court's direction, even if his vote is just one of nine. His power comes from judicial leadership, managing close cases, and influencing the institutional reputation of the Supreme Court.
How tall is John Marshall?
Marshall stands 6 ft 7 in (201 cm).
Did Andrew Jackson say John Marshall has made his decision?
President Jackson was quoted by Horace Greeley and was popularly believed to have said, “Well, John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it.”12 To a supporter he wrote, much less memorably, “The decision of the Supreme Court has fell stillborn, and they find they cannot coerce Georgia to yield to its ...
What was John Marshall's quote?
"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here." "It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is." Chief Justice Marshall is depicted several times in the art and architecture of the Supreme Court Building.
What is the most famous quote about justice?
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
Can the president overrule a Supreme Court decision?
No, the President cannot directly overturn a Supreme Court decision; only the Court itself (through a new ruling), the Constitution (via amendment), or new legislation by Congress can overturn a major ruling, though Presidents can try to influence future decisions by appointing new justices or challenge rulings through appeals, and historically, some have selectively enforced or ignored certain rulings, as seen with Lincoln and the Dred Scott case.
Why was Andrew Jackson so controversial?
Andrew Jackson was controversial due to his aggressive use of executive power, particularly his role in the forced removal of Native Americans (Trail of Tears) and his dismantling of the National Bank, which critics saw as abuses of power, alongside his deep involvement in slavery and violent personal history, clashing with his popular image as a champion of the common man. He defied the Supreme Court, intensified sectionalism during the Nullification Crisis, and his actions against the Bank led to economic instability, earning polarized views as both a populist hero and a tyrannical leader.
Which Supreme Court decision did Jackson ignore?
Andrew Jackson refused to enforce the ruling, the decision helped form the basis for most subsequent law in the United States regarding Native Americans. Worcester v. Georgia involved a group of white Christian missionaries, including Samuel A. Worcester, who were living in Cherokee territory in Georgia.