Why did president lincoln call for martial law and suspend citizen's rights in the borders states during the civil war? a) the border states declared themselves neutral and did not take sides which limited the union's . b) the border states had confederate sympathizers and slave holders so there was division in those states. c) the border states threatened to secede and join canada because they were upset with the outbreak of the war. d) the border states wanted to make sure that cash crops such as cotton and tobacco would be sold so they smuggled them out.