A House Divided - Blogging the Civil War.

Posted at 11:42 AM ET, 05/06/2011

Dennis Frye: What authority did Abraham Lincoln have to call up 75,000 troops to defend Washington and to blockade most Southern ports?

By Dennis Frye

”The proclamation of blockade by the President is, of itself, conclusive evidence that a state of war existed which demanded and authorized recourse to such measure.” Thus determined the United States Supreme Court in the Prize Cases, settled in 1862 in a split 5-4 decision.

By Dennis Frye | 11:42 AM ET, 05/06/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 150th anniversary, Views, Views

Posted at 11:33 AM ET, 05/06/2011

William Blair: What legal authority did Abraham Lincoln have to call up 75,000 troops to defend Washington and to blockade most Southern ports?

By William Blair

To find the answer to this two-pronged question, forget about the Constitution. This fundamental law of the nation is surprisingly quiet about any war powers that the president might claim. In fact, the term “war powers” never appears under the the sections dealing with the executive.

By William Blair | 11:33 AM ET, 05/06/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 150th anniversary, Views, Views

Posted at 11:28 AM ET, 05/01/2011

Tweeting the Civil War: Washington is secured

By Mary Hadar

The Washington Post is tweeting the Civil War, in the words of the people who lived it -- from journals, letters, official records and newspapers of the day. This week in 1861, Washington is secured.

By Mary Hadar | 11:28 AM ET, 05/01/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 150th anniversary, Tweeting the war, Tweeting the war

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 04/27/2011

Frank Williams: What legal authority did President Lincoln have to call up 75,000 troops to defend Washington and to order the blockade of most Southern ports?

By Frank Williams

When the war started both sides underestimated the passion and intensity of the other. President Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers to serve for only three months - his estimate of the duration of the rebellion....

By Frank Williams | 08:00 AM ET, 04/27/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 04/27/2011

John Marszalek: What legal authority did President Lincoln have to call up 75,000 troops to defend Washington and to order the blockade of most Southern ports?

By Linda Wheeler

Lincoln had acted unilaterally because he did not want to ask Congress for a declaration of war, believing that such an act would give the Confederacy recognition as an independent nation...

By Linda Wheeler | 08:00 AM ET, 04/27/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: Views, Views, 150th anniversary, 150th anniversary

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 04/27/2011

Harold Holzer: What legal authority did President Lincoln have to call up 75,000 troops to defend Washington and to order the blockade of most Southern ports?

By Harold Holzer

Established 18th century law arguably gave Abraham Lincoln adequate power to confront the gravest crisis in the 19th century by calling for volunteers after the attack on Fort Sumter....

By Harold Holzer | 08:00 AM ET, 04/27/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: Views, 150th anniversary, 150th anniversary

Posted at 09:48 PM ET, 04/22/2011

Tweeting the Civil War: Riots break out in Baltimore

By Mary Hadar

The Washington Post is tweeting the Civil War, in the words of the people who lived it -- from journals, letters, official records and newspapers of the day. This week in 1861, riots break out in Baltimore.

By Mary Hadar | 09:48 PM ET, 04/22/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:26 PM ET, 04/19/2011

Jim Campi: How do you explain the crazed, homicidal fury of city residents during the Baltimore Riots of April 19, 1861 in response to Massachusetts troops passing through that city; was that event an anomaly?

By Jim Campi

One day after the fall of Fort Sumter, President Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for 75,000 volunteers to put down the rebellion. The proclamation stoked passions already running at a fever pitch.

By Jim Campi | 08:26 PM ET, 04/19/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 150th anniversary, Views, Views