Final answer:
The Supreme Court confirmed the legitimacy of doctrines such as implied powers, national supremacy, and judicial review through cases like Marbury vs. Madison. It established its authority to declare laws unconstitutional and extended the Bill of Rights to the states, influencing civil liberties significantly.
Step-by-step explanation:
How the Supreme Court Confirmed the Legitimacy of Key Doctrines
The Supreme Court has played a pivotal role in shaping the constitutional landscape of the United States. Chief Justice John Marshall and later Chief Justice Roger Taney led the Court in establishing critical doctrines, such as the doctrine of implied powers, the principle of national supremacy, and the power of judicial review. For instance, the ruling in the landmark case of Marbury vs. Madison established the Court's authority to declare laws unconstitutional, ensuring a balance of power through judicial review. Moreover, the Court's decision in the case of Dred Scott v. Sandford reflected on the limitation of African Americans' rights, although this was later overturned. Through these decisions and many subsequent ones, the Court has affirmed its role in interpreting the Constitution and extended the protections of the Bill of Rights to the states through selective incorporation, profoundly affecting civil rights and civil liberties.
Importantly, these decisions demonstrate the Supreme Court's function in guarding the Constitution, as echoed by Alexander Hamilton in Federalist No. 78, and its significance in resolving issues beyond the reach of the other government branches. Over time, landmark rulings have continued to interpret and guarantee rights, upholding the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment in cases like the Grutter decision, which validated the affirmative action policy of a Michigan law school.