Question

What did lincoln believe during the civil war regarding executive power and the constitution?

Answer 1

During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln believed in the concept of "war powers" and the idea that the President, as commander-in-chief, had the power to take measures necessary to preserve the Union, even if those measures went beyond the strict limits of the Constitution. He also believed that the Constitution should be interpreted broadly in times of national crisis and that the President had the power to suspend the writ of habeas corpus (the right of individuals to be free from unlawful detention) in order to maintain order and protect the country. However, Lincoln maintained that these actions were temporary and necessary measures, and he always sought to balance the exercise of executive power with respect for civil liberties and the rule of law

Answer 2

Lincoln's preeminent concern was to insist on the constitutional propriety and necessity of recognizing the result of the presidential election. [8] He therefore adopted a rhetorical strategy that minimized his ability to bring the discordant parts of the country under the rule of the executive government