Courtmaker explores how Chief Justice John Marshall transformed the Supreme Court into a coequal branch of government. Through interviews, stunning locations, and re-creations of landmark cases like Marbury v. Madison, the film reveals how Marshall shaped the nation’s legal foundations and enduring ideals of liberty and self-government.
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Courtmaker is available to stream on pbs.org and the PBS app.
Chief Justice John Marshall administering oath of office to Andrew Jackson
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An engraving from the 1830s depicting Andrew Jackson as the Great Father.
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NY Colonization Society certificate
3/19
On Board a Slave ship
4/19
Woodcut, Justice John Marshall having fallen to floor
5/19
A slave auction at the south
6/19
From an original sketch by Theodore R. Davis.
Daniel Webster's argument of the famous Dartmouth College Case, by Robert Clayton Burns 1962
7/19
Signing of the Constitution, by Christy
8/19
Washington and Lafayette visiting the suffering part of the army, Gilbert
9/19
Property protected–å la Françoise - XYZ Affair
10/19
Illustration- “The Providential Detection” - Jefferson’s Letter to Mazzei, 1797
11/19
Cartoon - Cinque-Tetes or the Paris Monster 1787 - XYZ Affair
12/19
Cartoon - Cinque-Tetes or the Paris Monster 1787 - XYZ Affair
13/19
Cartoon - Federalist 1799
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Cartoon - Federalist 1799
15/19
Cartoon: The Present State of Our Country 1812-15, (color) William Charles, two American men trying to pull down pillars "federalism" and "democracy."
16/19
Burr trial
17/19
Battle of New Orleans
18/19
Cartoon - British valour and Yankee boasting or, Shannon versus Chesapeake
19/19
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