The Fate of Liberty

There has been considerable controversy over the last century about Abraham Lincoln's record on the Constitution and individual rights during the Civil War. Lincoln suspended Habeas Corpus during the war - the only time this basic political right has ever been suspended in American history. Neely first examines the whole range of Lincoln's constitutional policies and, in particular, shows who was convicted and jailed for what crimes during the war. He puts this whole discussion into the political context of the time. The result is a mixed record but one that basically reflects well on Lincoln.