Final answer:
Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) strengthened federal authority by ruling that the federal government had the power to regulate interstate commerce, superseding conflicting state laws. The decision supported the broad interpretation of the commerce clause and affirmed the federal government's ability to regulate navigation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The landmark Supreme Court decision in Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) marked a significant moment in the interpretation of the Constitution regarding the scope of national power. The case centered on the issue of whether the federal government or the states had the authority to regulate interstate commerce, specifically in the licensing of steamboats between New York and New Jersey. Chief Justice John Marshall's ruling favored a broad interpretation of the commerce clause in support of federal power. It was concluded that Congress had the authority to regulate navigation as part of interstate commerce, thus federal law took precedence over conflicting state laws. Consequently, the federal Licensing Act of 1793 was upheld, trumping the New York State license monopoly and strengthening the role of federal regulation.