Lincoln Changed How the Constitution Would Be Interpreted

Because Lincoln by-passed the Constitution in prosecuting the Civil War, the Supreme Court afterward had to interpret the Constitution differently to justify what had happened. This in effect resulted in a different principle for interpreting the Constitution, which we have had to live with ever since.

Lincoln Responsible for the Civil War

The southern states said they had a constitutional right to withdraw from the union. Lincoln said they didn't. It was constitutional question that should have been resolved in the Supreme Court without going to war. But Lincoln knew the Supreme Court was against him, so he took things in his own hands and went to war. All the bloodshed was due to his decision without legal grounds.

No American Revolution

The colonies did not engage in a revolution against England. They rejected the unlawful acts of Parliament.