Final answer:
The first major expansion of the Commerce Clause took place through the Supreme Court case Gibbons v. Ogden in 1824, which established that the federal government had the authority to regulate interstate commerce over state laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Expansion of the Commerce Clause
The first major expansion of the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution occurred through the 1824 Supreme Court case, Gibbons v. Ogden, which set a precedent for the broad interpretation of the Clause. This landmark decision established that the federal government had the sole authority to regulate interstate commerce, which includes the licensing of steamboats between New York and New Jersey. The ruling asserted that federal law supersedes state law in matters of interstate commerce, as per the Commerce Clause in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution.
In Gibbons v. Ogden, Chief Justice Marshall delivered a pivotal ruling that expanded the understanding and scope of the Commerce Clause, allowing for increased federal regulation of economic activities across state lines. This decision held that Congress had the authority under the Commerce Clause to regulate navigation among states, highlighting the power and reach of the national government. Over time, the Supreme Court's broad interpretation of the Commerce Clause has enabled Congress to enact federal legislation addressing various issues such as environmental regulation, public health measures, civil rights, and more.