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Habeas Corpus is a legal right specifically guaranteed to the people in the United States Constitution. The right of Habeas Corpus supposedly prevents the government from arbitrarily arresting people and holding them indefinitely, without charges being made against them or without a trial. The right protects against "illegal" arrest and detention. Since Lincoln "suspended" the right, this meant the government COULD arrest people on mere suspicion, or for speaking out against the war, and hold them as long as they pleased, without charges, or without giving them their day in Court.
Whether you think this was justified would depend on your own personal perspective. As Lincoln said, he felt that it would be foolish to allow the whole of the American government to be brought crashing down, while protecting this one right. But, if the right has to be given up to preserve the government, is the government what its supposed to be? To southerners this was further evidence of Lincoln's despotic tendencies. As a practical matter Lincoln had to suspend the right to keep the lawmakers of Maryland locked up, or else Maryland would secede, like the other southern states, leaving Washington DC surrounded by seceded states. But these WERE the elected representatives of the people of Maryland, seeking to carry out the wishes of the people of the state. So Lincoln suspended the right, so he could keep the people from having what they wanted.
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CoachDuring the course of the US Civil War, US president Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus several times. His rational for this was it was needed to protect the Union from treason on behalf of the Confederacy. He claimed that as a war measure to protect the US, Northern dissidents needed to be jailed without due process.
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During the Civil War which President suspended some of the basic rights of citizens in the name of keeping public order?
Abraham Lincoln, right to habeus corpus during American revolution
How did Abraham Lincoln use emergency powers during the civil war?
Abraham Lincoln suspending habeas corpus is example of him using emergency powers during the Civil War. It was highly controversial and was challenged in court.
How did Abraham Lincoln's actions during the war violate citizen's civil rights?
During the US Civil War, President Lincoln suspended many freedoms that were guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. Habeas Corpus as example was suspended. Suspected supporters of the Confederacy were denied due process. Lincoln's defence of this was that in an emergency, certain civil rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights had to be suspended in the interest of preserving the Union.
Was the writ of Habeas Corpus suspended during the civil war bvy federal gov?
A Maryland state legislator, John Merryman, was arrested by Union forces during the Civil War and charged with hindering the movement of Union forces. Merryman's attorney filed a writ of Habeas Corpus in response. President Abraham Lincoln decided to suspend the rules as a method of suppressing the rebellion in the Nation. The suspension was in effect until rejected by the Supreme Court, 5 years later.
Lincoln suspended what to deal with dissent in the Union states?
The writ of habeas corpus
