Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

The Court unanimously ruled that the Commerce Clause of Article I, Section 8 gave Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce.

According to Chief Justice John Marshall, one important purpose of the federal government was to “rescue [the United States] from the embarrassing and destructive consequences, resulting from the legislation of so many different States, and to place it under the protection of a uniform law.” Furthermore, the decision invoked the Supremacy Clause and affirmed that state laws that contradict constitutional acts of Congress “must yield” to the Constitution.

The case touched on constitutional principles including economic rights and federalism, and civic values including industry.