Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam

What was the significance of Gibbons v. Ogden?

1. It ended slavery in the United States

2. It established federal government control over interstate commerce

3. It allowed states to regulate commerce

4. It promoted the rights of workers

The correct answer is: It established federal government control over interstate commerce

The case of Gibbons v. Ogden, decided in 1824, is significant because it established the principle that the federal government holds supremacy over interstate commerce. This landmark decision arose from a dispute between two steamboat operators, one of whom had a federal license to operate between New Jersey and New York, while the other had a monopoly granted by the state of New York. The Supreme Court ruled that the federal government, not the states, had the authority to regulate interstate commerce, famously asserting that the power to regulate navigable waters was part of this commerce clause. By reinforcing the federal government's role in regulating trade and transportation across state lines, this case set a precedent that would lead to increased federal authority and economic integration in the young nation. The other options do not accurately capture the impact of Gibbons v. Ogden. The case did not address issues of slavery, state regulations on commerce without federal input, or labor rights. Instead, it laid the groundwork for a more interconnected economic system that allowed the federal government to intervene in commerce that crossed state boundaries.