A result of Gibbons v. Ogden was to confirm the superiority of congressional power over the states on navigation between different states.
Aaron Ogden and Thomas Gibbons were two associate navigators between 1815 and 1818. They owned steamboats with which they were doing business in the state of New York. When their partnership ended, Ogden wanted to forbid Gibbons to come sailing on his waters. Aaron Ogden signed an agreement with the state of New York that had given him ownership over an entire territory. The state court accepted his request and prevented Gibbons from coming to trade in this area.
Thomas Gibbons did not accept it and appealed this decision to the US Supreme Court. He won the case and was allowed to do business where he wanted. The judges reminded the state of New York that the American Congress had priority over trade and navigation when exchanges took place between several states or with foreign powers.
The word navigation was not present in the constitution, but the judges decided that it was part of the trade-in general. The laws regulating trade applied to this activity as well. This famous case has remained until today in the law of navigation in the United States.
Subject: History
Chapter: The Famous Supreme Court Cases
Keywords: navigation laws in the United States, US Constitution, trade rights in the US
