Correct, sort of. He told SC’s governor that Sumter would be abandoned and he wouldn’t send any more munitions and men, and then broke his promise by trying to send battleships then arms and troops (his own general’s were outraged). By forcing SC’s hand, he could let his minions in congress say that SC had levied war on the U.S. and now he was justified to use “war powers” without a war!
The fact that it went on throughout reconstruction and has allowed the Executive to grow in power ever since (vs the other 2 arms of gov’t and the states) is exactly the point.
The fact that it went on throughout reconstruction and has allowed the Executive to grow in power ever since (vs the other 2 arms of gov’t and the states) is exactly the point.
Not sure what point you're trying to make here since no one can point with authority to the Lincoln administration as being the specific identifiable position at which a disparity in the particular powers was definitively and irretrievably upset.