The Failure Of President Lincoln During The Civil War
As the Commander-in-Chief, Lincoln not only accomplished his mission to conduct the army and visit the battlefield so that he and the Union armies could have a better relationship, but also addressed 2 other major achievements, which were the Martial Law and the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus. During the Civil War, under the leadership of President Lincoln, the government excessed great power. In order to keep Kentucky, one of the border states, Lincoln put it under Martial Law, which meant the state was ruled by military leaders under special situations; he proclaimed a blockade and then suspended the writ of habeas corpus. Without congress’ agreement, he spent money and imprisoned 18000 suspected Confederates without trials, which none of the former presidents had ever done at his time. The wise decisions of Lincoln maintained or strengthened the Union’s power and at the same time weakened the Confederacy, further helped the Union go on the pathway to victory. Meanwhile, Lincoln triumphantly dealt with foreign affairs. For instance, in 1861, Union Captain Charles Wilkes commanded the USS San Jacinto to intercept the British mail packet RMS Trent as contraband of war. So the Confederate tried to use this case to win support and recognition from Britain. However, Lincoln and his cabinet member especially Seward wanted to avoid risking war, and thus they released the envoys and punished Captain Wilkes. The problem was then solved and the Confederate failed to be recognized. This was known as the Trent Affair.