Francis Lieber

Francis Lieber (1800–1872) was a German-American political philosopher, jurist, and educator. His 1863 code for Union forces shaped later laws governing warfare.

Lieber Code: A set of instructions issued by the Union Army in 1863 on conduct during war and military occupation. Lieber drafted this code, which translated his legal and ethical ideas into military instructions.
American Civil War: The United States’ 1861–1865 war between the Union and the Confederacy. The Union sought consistent rules for its armies as the war expanded.
General Orders No. 100: The Union Army order of April 24, 1863, that promulgated Instructions for the Government of Armies of the United States in the Field. This order gave Lieber’s code official force within the Union Army.
International humanitarian law: The body of international law that limits the effects of armed conflict and protects people not fighting. The code is an early landmark in the development of this field.
Laws of war: Rules and principles governing the conduct of armed conflict. Lieber’s code became a landmark in the development of these rules.
Columbia University: A private research university in New York City, founded in 1754 as King's College. Lieber taught political science and history there for much of his American career.
Occupation law: Rules governing the authority of a military force that controls territory during an armed conflict. Lieber’s code detailed how occupying armies could govern territory and protect inhabitants.
Geneva Conventions: A series of international treaties establishing protections for people affected by armed conflict. Lieber’s code preceded and influenced later efforts to formalize wartime protections.
Military necessity: A principle permitting measures needed to achieve a legitimate military objective, subject to legal limits. The code used necessity to justify some wartime measures while restricting others.
Political ethics: The study of moral principles governing political institutions, decisions, and conduct. Lieber’s writings connected political order and moral obligations to the conduct of war.

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