federate States back. Lincoln’s priority was to preserve the Union. Keeping Maryland, Missouri, Kentucky, Delaware, and West Virginia may have made it possible. It was entirely necessary for Lincoln to limit the rights of individuals. Northerners who sympathized with the South, also called “Copperheads”, openly attacked President Lincoln and the draft in newspapers, magazines, and their words. They often shipped goods to the South. Their actions may have posed a threat to the Union and could have lead to the loss of Border States. To prevent this, Lincoln arranged for “supervised” voting, and rightfully suspended Habeas Corpus and free speech. Those who threatened the North by outwardly speaking against the Union could be jailed immediately. In order to protect the nation, President Lincoln was entirely justified in suspending rights during the wartime situation. The North would have had no chance of victory over the Confederacy’s superior military had Lincoln not supported our small, inexperienced army. It was also crucial that the President kept the slave-holding Border States to be able to lure the Confederate States back in, and more importantly, to protect Washington D. C., the capital of the Union. If Lincoln allowed the sympathizers to continue freely expressing their hate for the war, the “Copperheads” may have lead to many losses for the North, including the vital Border States. If President Lincoln had not infringed on the rights of the people, we could be living in the Confederate States of America today....
