The Fate of Liberty: Abraham Lincoln and Civil Liberties

Summary

Neely examines how Abraham Lincoln handled civil liberties during the Civil War, including the suspension of habeas corpus and the arrests of thousands of civilians by military authority. Drawing on neglected War Department records, he argues that the scope of these arrests was different from the popular legend and that Lincoln acted with more restraint than critics claimed. The book reframes a charged debate about presidential power and constitutional rights in wartime.