The Supreme Court decisions in McCulloch v. Maryland and Gibbons v. Ogden reflected the nationalist feelings of the time period by strengthening the federal government's power over state governments in matters of interstate commerce and taxation.
In McCulloch v. Maryland, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Bank of the United States, which was established by Congress to regulate the nation's finances. Maryland had attempted to tax the bank, but the Court ruled that such taxation was unconstitutional because it would interfere with the federal government's ability to carry out its duties.
Similarly, in Gibbons v. Ogden, the Supreme Court affirmed the federal government's power to regulate interstate commerce. The case involved a dispute between two steamboat operators who both claimed the right to navigate the same waterways. The Court ruled in favor of the operator who had received a federal license, stating that the federal government had the authority to regulate interstate commerce, including navigation of waterways.
Both of these decisions reflected the nationalist feelings of the time period because they emphasized the power of the federal government over state governments in matters of commerce and finance. They reinforced the idea that the federal government was the ultimate authority in matters that affected the nation as a whole, rather than individual states. This sentiment was consistent with the broader movement towards nationalism that was occurring during the early 19th century, as the United States sought to establish itself as a strong, unified nation.