A Chief Justice's Progress: John Marshall from Revolutionary Virginia to the Supreme Court

(Hardback)

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Widely regarded as America's most important Chief Justice, John Marshall influenced our constitutional, political, and economic development as much as any American. He handed down landmark decisions on judicial review, federal-state relations, contracts, corporations, and commercial regulation during a thirty-four year tenure that encompassed five presidencies, a second war of independence, the demise of the first American party system, and the advent of Jacksonianism and market capitalism. This is the first interpretive study of Marshall's early life that emphasizes the formative influences on him before he joined the Court. By that time his character and attitudes were fully formed through his childhood in the Virginia gentry, his service in the state militia and Continental Army, and his work as a prominent lawyer, a Federalist, and a diplomat. Drawing heavily on Marshall's own writings, this study views his pre-Supreme Court life as a cumulative experience that formed the identity and value system that he brought to bear on his experiences as Chief Justice. Robarge examines Marshall's social and political education in the unique milieu of late 18th century Virginia for its own intrinsic interest, as well as for its relationship to his profound contribution to the Court. The events and situations that shaped Marshall's personality and attitudes directly influenced his leadership style. They also had a deep impact upon his efforts to establish an independent judiciary, to unify the nation through territorial expansion and a legal common market, and to revive the moribund Federalist party as a balance to the dominant Republicans led by the cousin he detested, Thomas Jefferson.

Reviews

.,."the author has produced a richly detailed picture of Marshall's own life and the myriad events and personalities that shaped his world."-Journal of Southern History
.,."thorough and sensible...scholarship, with copious endnotes sure to lead the serious Marshall student to a wealth of additional information."-History: Reviews of New Books
.,."I would suggest that any serious student of the post-revolutionary period take a look at this book. It is meticulously researched, clearly-written, well-argued and engaging; definitive evidence, if any were needed, that John Marshall's life and work continues to be an important and potentially interesting subject for historical analysis."-The Law and Politics
...the author has produced a richly detailed picture of Marshall's own life and the myriad events and personalities that shaped his world.-Journal of Southern History
...thorough and sensible...scholarship, with copious endnotes sure to lead the serious Marshall student to a wealth of additional information.-History: Reviews of New Books
...I would suggest that any serious student of the post-revolutionary period take a look at this book. It is meticulously researched, clearly-written, well-argued and engaging; definitive evidence, if any were needed, that John Marshall's life and work continues to be an important and potentially interesting subject for historical analysis.-The Law and Politics
[a] valuable illumination of Marshall as a politician and lawyer in the early Republic--it is also of great significance for understanding the process of choosing Supreme Court nominees.-H-Net Reviews in the Humanities & Social Sciences
Grounded in extensive research in both primary sources and the vast historical and legal literature, this book ranks high among the recent outpouring of monographs dealing with Marshall and the Marshall Court....Not only is Robarge's study illumination of Marshall as a politician an lawyer in the early Republic--it is also of great significance for understanding the process of choosing Supreme Court nominees.-Virginia Libraries
Robarge has provided a valuable service by recounting John Marshall's biography up to the year he became chief justice of the US Supreme Court...Robarge does a superb job.-Choice
This is a book long awaited....unquestionably the best scholarly bioigraphy of "the great chief justice" yet to be published. As such it demands immediate attention from anyone wishing to understand Marshall or his impact on the Constitution and the U.S. Supreme Court.-The Journal of American History
Working from the premise that a book focusing of John Marhsall's life before his service on the U.S. Supreme Court fills a gap in the voluminous literature on the man and the court he headed, the author has sought to fill this opening...This is a scholar's book in it's writing style, its historiographical context, and its extensive documentation, and, as such, it is a welcome contribution to the literature.-The Historian
"a valuable illumination of Marshall as a politician and lawyer in the early Republic--it is also of great significance for understanding the process of choosing Supreme Court nominees."-H-Net Reviews in the Humanities & Social Sciences
"[a] valuable illumination of Marshall as a politician and lawyer in the early Republic--it is also of great significance for understanding the process of choosing Supreme Court nominees."-H-Net Reviews in the Humanities & Social Sciences
..."the author has produced a richly detailed picture of Marshall's own life and the myriad events and personalities that shaped his world."-Journal of Southern History
..."thorough and sensible...scholarship, with copious endnotes sure to lead the serious Marshall student to a wealth of additional information."-History: Reviews of New Books
..."I would suggest that any serious student of the post-revolutionary period take a look at this book. It is meticulously researched, clearly-written, well-argued and engaging; definitive evidence, if any were needed, that John Marshall's life and work continues to be an important and potentially interesting subject for historical analysis."-The Law and Politics
"Robarge has provided a valuable service by recounting John Marshall's biography up to the year he became chief justice of the US Supreme Court...Robarge does a superb job."-Choice
"This is a book long awaited....unquestionably the best scholarly bioigraphy of "the great chief justice" yet to be published. As such it demands immediate attention from anyone wishing to understand Marshall or his impact on the Constitution and the U.S. Supreme Court."-The Journal of American History
"Working from the premise that a book focusing of John Marhsall's life before his service on the U.S. Supreme Court fills a gap in the voluminous literature on the man and the court he headed, the author has sought to fill this opening...This is a scholar's book in it's writing style, its historiographical context, and its extensive documentation, and, as such, it is a welcome contribution to the literature."-The Historian
"Grounded in extensive research in both primary sources and the vast historical and legal literature, this book ranks high among the recent outpouring of monographs dealing with Marshall and the Marshall Court....Not only is Robarge's study illumination of Marshall as a politician an lawyer in the early Republic--it is also of great significance for understanding the process of choosing Supreme Court nominees."-Virginia Libraries

Author Bio

DAVID ROBARGE is a historian with the Central Intelligence Agency, where he has also worked as a political analyst./e Prior to that he worked on the staff of David Rockefeller and at the Gannett Center for Media Studies at Columbia University. He has taught history at both Columbia and George Mason Universities.