John Marshall
The Chief Justice Who Saved the Nation
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Narrated by:
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Robert Fass
About this listen
A soul-stirring biography of John Marshall, the young Republic's great chief justice who led the Supreme Court to power and brought law and order to the nation.
In the political turmoil that convulsed America after George Washington's death, the surviving Founding Fathers went mad - literally pummeling each other in Congress and challenging one another to deadly duels in their quest for power. Out of the political intrigue, one man emerged to restore calm and dignity to the government: John Marshall. The longest-serving chief justice in American history, Marshall transformed the Supreme Court from an irrelevant appeals court into the powerful and controversial branch of government that Americans today either revere or despise.
Drawing on rare documents, Harlow Giles Unger shows how, with nine key decisions, Marshall rewrote the Constitution, reshaped government, and prevented Thomas Jefferson from turning tyrant. John Adamscalled his appointment of Marshall to chief justice his greatest gift to the nation and "the pride of my life".
©2014 Harlow Giles Unger (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
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A major new biography of the fourth US president, from New York Times best-selling author Lynne Cheney. James Madison was a true genius of the early republic, the leader who did more than any other to create the nation we know today. This majestic new biography tells his story. Outwardly reserved, Madison was the intellectual driving force behind the Constitution. His visionary political philosophy was a crucial factor behind the Constitution’s ratification, and his political savvy was of major importance in getting the new government underway.
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Great man, great ideas, muddling book
- By NDFletch on 06-13-15
By: Lynne Cheney
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Jefferson and Hamilton
- The Rivalry That Forged a Nation
- By: John Ferling
- Narrated by: Bo Foxworth
- Length: 18 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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The decade of the 1790s has been called the "age of passion". Fervor ran high as rival factions battled over the course of the new republic - each side convinced that the other's goals would betray the legacy of the Revolution so recently fought and so dearly won. All understood as well that what was at stake was not a moment's political advantage, but the future course of the American experiment in democracy. In this epochal debate, no two figures loomed larger than Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton.
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Biased and low quality
- By Yolanda Yzquierdo on 12-04-22
By: John Ferling
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America's Great Debate
- Henry Clay, Stephen A. Douglas, and the Compromise that Preserved the Union
- By: Fergus M. Bordewich
- Narrated by: Norman Dietz
- Length: 17 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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The Mexican War introduced vast new territories into the United States, among them California and the present-day Southwest. When gold was discovered in California in the great Gold Rush of 1849, the population swelled, and settlers petitioned for admission to the Union. But the U.S. Senate was precariously balanced with 15 free states and 15 slave states. Up to this point, states had been admitted in pairs, one free and one slave, to preserve that tenuous balance in the Senate.
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Excellent. Very detailed. Entertaining.
- By Douglas on 03-03-18
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Apostles of Revolution
- Jefferson, Paine, Monroe, and the Struggle Against the Old Order in America and Europe
- By: John Ferling
- Narrated by: Noah Michael Levine
- Length: 18 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine and James Monroe were in the vanguard of revolutionary ideas in the 18th century. As founding fathers, they risked their lives for American independence, but they also wanted more. Each wished for profound changes in the political and social fabric of pre-1776 America and hoped that the American Revolution would spark republican and egalitarian revolutions throughout Europe, sweeping away the old aristocratic order. Ultimately, each rejoiced at the opportunity to be a part of the French Revolution, a cause that became increasingly untenable as idealism gave way to the bloody terror.
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A bit of a challenging listen but well worth it
- By J. Parks on 09-20-21
By: John Ferling
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Madison's Gift
- Five Partnerships That Built America
- By: David Stewart
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 14 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Short, plain, balding, neither soldier nor orator, low on charisma and high on intelligence, Madison cared more about achieving results than taking the credit. To reach his lifelong goal of a self-governing constitutional republic, he blended his talents with those of key partners. It was Madison who led the drive for the Constitutional Convention and pressed for an effective new government as his patron George Washington lent the effort legitimacy.
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Excellent history of our nation's founding
- By JJay on 02-23-15
By: David Stewart
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Liberty's First Crisis
- Adams, Jefferson, and the Misfits Who Saved Free Speech
- By: Charles Slack
- Narrated by: Brian Holsopple
- Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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When the United States government passed the Bill of Rights in 1791, its uncompromising protection of speech and of the press were unlike anything the world had ever seen before. But by 1798, the once-dazzling young republic of the United States was on the verge of collapse. Suddenly, the First Amendment, which protected harsh commentary of the weak government, no longer seemed as practical. So that July, President John Adams and the Federalists in control of Congress passed an extreme piece of legislation that made criticism of the government and its leaders a crime.
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Marvelous Book....
- By Douglas on 01-07-17
By: Charles Slack
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The Making of America: Volume 1
- Alexander Hamilton, Andrew Jackson, and Abraham Lincoln
- By: Teri Kanefield
- Narrated by: Pete Cross
- Length: 12 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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Unlike other biographies, the Making of America series goes beyond individual narratives linking influential figures to create an overarching story of America's growth that will deepen understanding of the country we live in today. This bundle featuring Alexander Hamilton, Abraham Lincoln, and Andrew Jackson tells the story of American constitutional history from the founding of the nation through the end of the Civil War.
By: Teri Kanefield
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Washington and Hamilton
- The Alliance That Forged America
- By: Stephen F. Knott, Tony Williams
- Narrated by: Ron Butler
- Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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In the wake of the American Revolution, the Founding Fathers faced a daunting task: overcome their competing visions to build a new nation, the likes of which the world had never seen. Washington and Hamilton chronicles the unlikely collaboration between two conflicting characters working together to protect their hard-won freedoms. Yet while Washington and Hamilton's different personalities often led to fruitful collaboration, their conflicting ideals also tested the boundaries of their relationship - and threatened the future of the new republic.
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Biography
- By Emily on 06-14-18
By: Stephen F. Knott, and others
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An easy read
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A leading Supreme Court expert recounts the personal and philosophical rivalries that forged our nation's highest court and continue to shape our daily lives. The Supreme Court is the most mysterious branch of government, and yet the Court is at root a human institution, made up of very bright people with very strong egos, for whom political and judicial conflicts often become personal.
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WE GET IT! HE'S A "KNIGHT"
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Without Precedent
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No member of America's founding generation had a greater impact on the Constitution and the Supreme Court than John Marshall, and no one did more to preserve the delicate unity of the fledgling United States. From the nation's founding in 1776 and for the next 40 years, Marshall was at the center of every political battle. As Chief Justice of the United States - the longest-serving in history—he established the independence of the judiciary and the supremacy of the federal Constitution and courts.
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Scholarly and Accessible
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What listeners say about John Marshall
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Erl Gould Purnell
- 11-23-17
Thank Goodness for John Marshall
H.G Unger has given John Marshall the light he so well deserves. Marshall was a devoted husband and father, a lawyer, a Revolutionary War hero, a diplomat and among the founders of the country. AND THAT was only during the first half of his life. That last 35 years was spent inventing how the Supreme Court should and would function in a democracy with three equal branches of government.
Few know how disruptive and contrary Thomas Jefferson was toward the federal judiciary. He did all he could (mostly duplicitously) to marginalize it and even eliminate it. Imagine. Had it not been for Marshall, Jefferson may have succeeded.
This book is the story of John Marshall, who he was and how he became such a force in American history. It's well written with excellent details, lots of characters and some thrilling exposés. The performance is excellent. For the American history buff, a must..
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- Ray
- 08-05-21
Must read
This book is about more than just John Marshall. Wonderful insights into the difficulties of the founding fathers and the establishment of this nation.
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- Curt Elton
- 04-22-22
astounding prejudice againstThomas Jefferson
Author shows astounding prejudice againstThomas Jefferson. Contradicts a lot of other history. Read with a critical eye!!
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- brad foreman
- 12-29-21
Yes JM Saved the Nation
Book was well written in chronological order. Book does excellent description in the development of our country, politics, and our founding fathers actions both good and not so good.
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- MAC24211
- 11-10-20
Sufficiently detailed and very interesting
Very interesting look at an incredible American. Pretty amazing the impact just one man can have. Not a very flattering look at Thomas Jefferson though.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Kico M
- 03-25-21
Good book about a great figure
This is a very well written book, it is able to tell the story of a great and relevant historical figure of US along with the backstory of his time. For me the book has extra value because I knew little about John Marshal and his outstanding contributions. In addiction, it was good to know more about other Important figures, for good and bad, such as Hamilton, Moore and Jefferson.
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- Hank Cecil
- 06-24-21
excellent
great summary of Marshall's impact on American history along with interesting details about other historical figures of the early of days if the USA
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- JR
- 07-25-23
Incredible history of the Greatest American Jurist
This outstanding history should be must reading for all who want to understand the role of the Supreme Court in America. John Marshall and his father, Thomas Marshall were both revolutionary war Heroes. They were also close friends and confidants of Presidents Washington, Adams, Madison, Monroe and a feuding cousin to Thomas Jefferson. For me, this was all new and fascinating information. All I can say is once I started listening to this book, I couldn’t stop until I reach the end. Absolutely brilliant.
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- Anonymous User
- 01-17-22
Required reading!
If more of us were aware of the early struggles of our country we wouldn’t be so surprised and alarmed at our present struggles.
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- peter taylor
- 02-05-22
Enlightening
very informative book, didn't realize the role he played in the young republic.and didn't know that Thomas Jefferson was such a Cad!
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