Question

What effect did the US Supreme Court have through the Gibbons v Ogden decision?

Answer 1

It stated that the Federal government, through the actions of the Congress, could regulate commercial activity between the states.

Explanation:

In the Gibbons v Ogden decision, the US Supreme Court stated that the Federal government, through the actions of the Congress, could regulate commercial activity between the states.

• Gibbons and Ogden were business partners
• They bought a route between New York and Elizabethtown from Fulton and Livingston
• But Gibbons betrayed Ogden
• Gibbons operated his own two ships on the same route
• Ogden received the franchise from Fulton and Livingston
• Gibbons justified that he had separate federal license
• Ogden sued Gibbons in New York State Court to force him to stop operating his steamship route
• The New York State court agreed and issued an injunction against Gibbons
• Gibbons then appealed to the Supreme Court to help him keep operating his route
• Gibbons was represented by the famous lawyer Daniel Webster
• Webster argued that the federal law was supreme above all state laws
• According to the Constitution, Congress has the ability to regulate interstate commerce
• The Federal government, through the actions of the Congress, could regulate commercial activity between the states