American history

American history

Contributors in American history

American history

Appointed Chief Justice in 1801, Marshall expanded the Supreme Court's power and prestige and established its power to determine the constitutionality of the acts of other branches of government and ...

John Calhoun

History; American history

C. As vice president, Calhoun anonymously expounded the doctrine of nullification, which held that states could prevent the enforcement of a federal law within their boundaries.

John Adams

History; American history

As the nation's second president, Adams had to deal with deteriorating relations between the United States and France. Conflicts between the two countries were evident in the XYZ Affair and the ...

Federalist Papers

History; American history

These 85 newspaper essays, written in support of ratification of the Constitution of 1787 in New York by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay, described the proposed plan of national ...

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg

History; American history

American radicals accused of passing atomic secrets to the Soviets during World War II. Although the death penalty was not mandatory for their crime, their 1953 execution reflected the national anti ...

Judiciary Act of 1801

History; American history

Passed by the Federalists after they had lost control of Congress in the election of 1800, the act reduced the size of the Supreme Court, created a new set of circuit courts, and increased the number ...

Judicial Review

History; American history

The power of the courts to determine the constitutionality of acts of other branches of government and to declare unconstitutional acts null and void.