5 Paragraph Persuasive Paper

President Lincoln imposed martial law in Maryland, controlling newspapers and arresting civilians. He even suspended the writ of habeas corpus. Remember, a writ of habeas corpus gives a judge the authority to free a person who is being held illegally. Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Taney issued a writ of habeas corpus to free a secessionist named John Merryman. General Cadwalader chose to ignore Taney’s decision.

Your assignment is to write a persuasive essay explaining your point of view on how much power a president should have over individual rights. Relate the situation Lincoln faced in the Civil War to the threat of terrorism in the modern world