Final answer:
Option (c), During the Civil War, Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus to detain suspected Confederate sympathizers, a controversial move that aimed to preserve the Union but was criticized for infringing on civil liberties.
Step-by-step explanation:
Effectiveness of Lincoln's Suspension of Habeas Corpus
During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus, a constitutional guarantee that protects individuals from unlawful imprisonment. Specifically, in 1861 and 1862, Lincoln aimed to secure the Union capital by detaining suspected Confederate supporters in Maryland. The Habeas Corpus Suspension Act passed in March 1863 extended this power. This act allowed for indefinite detention without formal charges, a move considered necessary for national security and preserving the Union. Moreover, Lincoln also closed down newspapers under this suspension, which added to the controversy.
On the Confederate side, President Davis was granted similar powers by the Confederate Congress in 1862. However, this led to accusations of military despotism, especially in places like Georgia, where states' rights were a passionate rallying point. The centralization of power in the Confederacy, highlighted by the suspension of habeas corpus, was seen as a betrayal of the initial states' rights stance that differed from the use of the writ in the Union.
Historians remain divided on the outcomes of this decision. Some argue it was a necessary evil for maintaining order and securing the Union. Others view it as a fundamental breach of civil liberties that branded Lincoln as a dictator and heightened mistrust. The Supreme Court's ruling in Ex parte Milligan affirmed the primacy of civilian courts, underscoring the contentious nature of the suspension. Overall, the effectiveness of suspending the writ of habeas corpus during wartime is a complex historical question that elicits varied interpretations on its impact on law and order versus civil liberties.