<P> In United States law, martial law is limited by several court decisions that were handed down between the American Civil War and World War II . In 1878, Congress passed the Posse Comitatus Act, which forbids military involvement in domestic law enforcement without congressional approval . </P> <P> Throughout United States history are several examples of the imposition of martial law, aside from that during the Civil War . </P> <P> As a result of the Boston Tea Party, Parliament passed the Massachusetts Government Act, one of the Intolerable Acts, which suppressed town meetings and assemblies, and imposed appointed government, tantamount to martial law . </P> <P> During the War of 1812, US General Andrew Jackson imposed martial law in New Orleans, Louisiana before repulsing the British in the Battle of New Orleans . Martial law was also imposed in a four - mile radius around the vicinity . When word came of the end of the war, Jackson maintained martial law, contending that he had not gotten official word of the peace . A judge demanded habeas corpus for a man arrested for sedition . Rather than comply with the writ, Jackson had the judge arrested . </P>

When was the last time martial law was declared in the us