The case that is considered to have built the foundations of tribal sovereignty in US, it laid out the relationship between tribes, state and federal governments.

In a popular quotation that is believed to be apocryphal, President Andrew Jackson reportedly responded: “John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it!” This derives from Jackson’s comments on the case in a letter to John Coffee, “. . . the decision of the Supreme Court has fell still born, and they find that they cannot coerce Georgia to yield to its mandate.”

Jackson proceeded with Removal, and the Trail of Tears forced migration was the result.