The Fate of Liberty
Abraham Lincoln and Civil Liberties
Mark E. Neely
A Pulitzer Prize-winning history delves into the controversial constitutional policies of Abraham Lincoln. The book explores the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, detailing who was jailed and why. The author argues that Lincoln's actions were a response to unprecedented events, including disintegrating public order in border states, contraband trade with the South, and corruption among army contractors. The book also highlights abuses of power under martial law, including anti-Semitism among Union generals and officials and the routine torture of suspected deserters. Despite flaws in the justice system, the author finds that Lincoln remained dedicated to prosecuting the war effectively and was concerned with political realities. This is a must-read for anyone interested in civil liberties during the Civil War era.
Publish Date
1992-08-20T00:00:00.000Z
1992-08-20T00:00:00.000Z
first published in 1991
Goodreads Rating
3.57
ISBN
9780760788646
Categories
Recommendations
1
Recommendations
2022-11-03T00:29:52.000Z
There's a lot I could say about this letter but I'll take a pass on most of it. I will say that if you want to read an interesting and *accurate* account of Lincoln and civil liberties, there's a solid book on the subject by Mark Neely: It won a Pulitzer. – source