Government systems and structures

John Marshall was the greatest Puritan of them all. Puritans emphasized an individual relationship with God, and rejected organized religion's dogmas. Certainly, Puritans have long been against slavery. In this context, John Marshall, a well-known opponent of slavery, and a proponent of individual rights can be said to be one of the greatest Puritans.

The Puritans emerged in the 18th Century, from the teachings of John Locke. They rejected the dogmas of the major religious denominations of Europe, and emphasized the idea of an individual relationship with God. Many Puritans came to American in order to avoid religious persecution at home.

Interestingly, a common misconception about Puritans is that they are highly intolerant, especially of other races and religions. While there have been specific incidents of religious and racial intolerance by Puritans, in general the Puritan religion is one of tolerance towards others. Specifically, the famous preacher Jonathan Edwards (who had strong Puritan ties) spoke out about the evil of slavery over 30 years before the American Revolution.

John Marshall is certainly one of the great Puritans when we think about the Puritan religion as one of tolerance, and of individual decision. Marshall became one of the most important Supreme Court Justices in the history of the United States, and was deeply interested in the preservation of private property rights, increasing the prestige and power of the court, and the establishing of a strong, central, federal power.

John Marshall acted as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for thirty-four years. As Chief Justice, Marshall's decisions greatly strengthened the judicial branch of government of the United States. Marshall is often considered to be the founder of Constitutional law and judicial precedent.

Marshall's interest in the preservation of private property rights is certainly in accordance with the Puritan ethic of individual relationships. Further, the preservation of private property rights is also a very individualistic, Puritan attitude.

Interestingly, John Marshall's interest in establishing a strong federal government can also be seen as Puritan in nature. At first glance a strong federal government may seem to go against the individualistic principles of the Puritans. However, Marshall felt that a strong federal government was needed to make sure that the government met the needs of all the people. As such, he felt that a strong federal government would be best suited to help meet the individual needs of American citizens.

Like other Puritans, John Marshall was not greatly interested in material things. Puritans feel that the Bible is the final authority on all matters, and often tend to disregard materialistic concepts like wealth and appearance. Marshall is well-known for wearing mismatched and unattractive clothing, which can certainly be attributed to his Puritanical lack of concern over his appearance.