Why did Abraham Lincoln declare war on the South?

Oh heavens…so many opinions…so many overlooked facts…so little understanding. It is true — but also irrelevant and immaterial — that the Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war. read more

Lincoln did not declare war on the seceded states. As far as Lincoln was concerned, the Confederate States of America was not a separate nation at war but a section of the indivisible United States of America in rebellion. This may seem like just a semantic distinction but it had profound implications for the conduct of the war. read more

To begin with, Abraham Lincoln did not declare war on the South. He was the President of the United States and the president does not have the authority to declare war on anyone. The second part of your question does not correspond to the situation that existed in the United States in 1860. read more

Using this law, on April 15, Lincoln issued a proclamation declaring that an insurrection existed, called out 75,000 men to put it down, and convened a special session of Congress for July 4. After the war, the Supreme Court issued an opinion fixing the exact dates on which the war began and ended. read more

Lincoln never declared war on the South, because he had no Constitutional power to do so. Under the Constitution, the President has the authority to put down armed insurrection. The War Powers Act of 1807 requires him to use the state militia as a first resort, though. read more

Discussion in 'Civil War History - Secession and Politics' started by oldreb, Jun 10, 2002. read more