What did the ruling of John Marshall in McCulloch v. Maryland signify about federal power?

The ruling of John Marshall in McCulloch v. Maryland is significant because it established the principle that federal power is supreme over state authority when the two are in conflict. This landmark decision in 1819 affirmed the constitutionality of the Second Bank of the United States and underscored the implied powers of Congress as derived from the Necessary and Proper Clause of the Constitution. Marshall's opinion highlighted that while the Constitution grants certain enumerated powers to the federal government, the federal government has the authority to use implied powers to carry out its responsibilities. Therefore, any state action, such as Maryland's attempt to tax the national bank, could not interfere with legitimate federal actions. The ruling reinforced the notion that federal institutions operate independently of state control, thus solidifying the supremacy of federal power in the American federal system.