Forging these United States

The Executive Branch

Instituting the Institutions

George Washington to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island (August 18, 1790)

The Danbury Baptists Association in the State of Connecticut to Thomas Jefferson October 7, 1801

Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptists Association in the State of Connecticut January 1, 1802

Case Law

Marbury V Madison

1803 Supreme Court decision that established judicial review

McCulloch V Maryland

1819 Supreme Court decision that established the constitutional supremacy and sovereignty of the federal government.

Cohens V Virginia

1821 Supreme Court decision that reaffirmed its jurisdiction to review all cases arising from state court judgments.

Debates and Public Commentary

Letter from Thomas Jefferson to John Norvell, June 14, 1807

Thomas Jefferson, Minutes from a meeting of the Board of Visitors of UVA (1825)

Madison Letter to Edward Everett, 1830

James Madison, On the Nullifying Doctrine, 1830

South Carolina's Ordinance of Nullification, 1832

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