Presidential Power in a National Crisis

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Presidential Power in a National Crisis Presidents of the United States take an oath to uphold the Constitution. In times of crisis, however, presidents are tempted to circumvent the spirit of the Constitution in the name of political expediency. The president of the United States of America is frequently under pressure, which could be for something as simple as dealing with his wife (especially if she's running for the US Senate), but usually the problem is more extensive. Then, the whole nation is affected, and the problem becomes a national crisis. A widespread panic is possible. The president must propose a plan to aid his nation while keeping the public under control. Lincoln. Roosevelt and Truman proposed bills to stop or prevent the national crises that plagued the country. In 1861, the country was dividing into two and President Lincoln had to reunite the Union. His plan was to start a war between the North and South in order to end the national crisis. In May of 1861, Congress was going through a 9-week emergency period and couldn't pass any laws. Lincoln was given full executive power. This was all he needed to make the practical measures for the war (Sandburg 257). Lincoln's first move was to start a militia at Ft. McHenry led by General Cadwalader, and invade the home of John Merryman of Baltimore, on May 25 at two in the morning, and took him out of his bed (Sandburg 247). He was taken to Ft. McHenry and held for treason (Sandburg 247). The next morning, John Merryman's lawyers went to Supreme Court Judge Roger Taney's home near Baltimore, and denied all charges of treason (Sandburg 247). Taney became confused and issued the writ of habeas corpus for General Cadwalader to appear in court with Merryman (Sandbu... ... middle of paper ... ... prevent the national crises that plagued the country. Some of the presidents took affirmative action like Truman, while presidents like Lincoln took a more negative approach to the national crisis. All three presidents tested the limits of their constitutional authority in order to help to nation recover. Some of their proposals, like the Emergency Banking Bill passed Congress, and some did not. In the end, all three presidents resolved the national crisis, and the nation resumed its normal course of events. Bibliography: Works Cited Davis, Kenneth S. FDR: The New Deal Years 1933-1939. New York: Random House Inc., 1986. McCullough, David. Truman. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1992. Sandburg, Carl. Abraham Lincoln The Prairie Years & The War Years. USA: Pictorial Review Co., 1954. Court TV Online. "Texas vs. Carla Faye Tucker." 19 October 2000 .

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