Abraham Lincoln, born in 1809, would become a name marked in history books as the 16th president. He was born in “Hardin County, Kentucky, the son of Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks” . As a child, Lincoln’s family “belonged to a Baptist denomination that broke from the parent church on the slavery issue” . Some historians believe that this may have had an influence on Lincoln’s later political beliefs. After leaving his family behind, in 1832, Lincoln “volunteered for the militia and was elected captain of his company, which included the Clary Grove boys. They saw no action, but Lincoln later recalled his election as captain as the most gratifying honor of his life” . Later, this humbleness would follow Lincoln on the road to the presidency.
Lincoln, one of the nation’s most beloved and famous presidents, rose to power during the political battle of slavery. Being an opponent to slavery, his election had the potential to destroy the nation. However, some saw his election as the only chance to save the nation. Therefore, his presidency would be defined by his reaction before, during, and after the Civil War. Whether loved or loathed, Lincoln was one of the most respected men of his time. Today, his accomplishments and decisions are still evident nationwide.
Declaration of Martial Law and Suspension of Habeas Corpus
To begin with, martial law is “a state of military authority imposed on civilians in time of war,” resulting in “a suspension of many rights normally protected by the Constitution” . At the same time, Lincoln suspended habeas corpus, “meaning that an accused person’s right to be charged with a crime before a judge prior to detention was not given” . In many cases, habeas corpus was only suspended in critical areas . These decisions were not popular with the general public and were not well-received. In fact, he was “widely criticized for his suspension of habeas corpus, but he was acting in accord with his vision of what the presidency should be like during wartime” .
Lincoln believed he was doing the right thing for the country by imposing martial law and suspending habeas corpus. Ultimately, he felt he was protecting the country to the best of his ability. Furthermore, it was believed that this would help quell the “rebellion” and stop the division of the Union . Many innocent citizens spend a great deal of time in prison because the suspension allowed citizens to be imprisoned without being formally charged. Many did not see the purpose in having this act completed. In fact, there were many negative results. For example, “thousands of people were arrested and detained for long periods without having been even accused of a crime” . This resulted in many innocent citizens being detained and unable to contribute to the war effort or support their families.
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was written in an attempt to “strike a blow against the Confederate economy and war effort” . Lincoln felt that the best solution was to wait for a “Union military victory to announce it” .
“When the American Civil War (1861-65) began, President Abraham Lincoln carefully framed the conflict as concerning the preservation of the Union rather than the abolition of slavery. Although he personally found the practice of slavery abhorrent, he knew that neither Northerners nor the residents of the border slave states would support abolition as a war aim. But by mid-1862, as thousands of slaves fled to join the invading Northern armies, Lincoln was convinced that abolition had become a sound military strategy, as well as the morally correct path. On September 22, soon after the Union victory at Antietam, he issued a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that as of January 1, 1863, all slaves in the rebellious states ‘shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.’ While the Emancipation Proclamation did not free a single slave, it was an important turning point in the war, transforming the fight to preserve the nation into a battle for human freedom” .
This order was much more popular in the Northern states than in the Confederacy. In fact, after the order was issued, the Confederacy still was allowed slavery due to the separate Constitution. As a result, the 13th Amendment, a result of the Emancipation Proclamation, did not pass until 1864. It was not ratified until 1865 . By issuing the order, Lincoln ran the risk of further alienating the Confederate states. Instead, the Emancipation Proclamation was a pivotal turning point in the war. The reason is that after the passing of the law, many slaves joined the Union army, boosting its ranks during the bloodiest war in United States history.
Blockade of Southern Ports
The blockade of Southern ports had its good points and bad points. Most importantly, “the naval blockade of Southern ports proved to be one of the most successful tactics of the war” . This was due to the restriction of supplies for the Confederate army. However, this success would come with a price. For instance, “by the end of the war, the South was experiencing increasing starvation and malnutrition” . Since the blockade was so instrumental to Union success, it is impossible to say what would have happened as a result of the war if Lincoln had not implemented it. This blockade served to keep Confederate exports down. This resulted in loss of funding, which was desperately needed to continue the war effort. Therefore, the popularity of the tactic depended upon which side of the war was considered. The Union was very much in favor of this tactic, while the Confederate was very much opposed to it.
The combination of the decisions and orders issued and passed by President Lincoln had a profound effect on the nation. Globally, other nations learned that the young nation was determined to be independent and could fight for its beliefs. Furthermore, it showed other nations that the United States would not easily be destroyed. Perhaps even more beneficial, the Lincoln presidency taught the nation itself that it could remain strong, even in the midst of war.
