As National Guard troops take position in Chicago, the United States once again faces a defining question: how far can federal power go?

The deployment of 200 National Guard soldiers, ordered by President Trump, has drawn sharp criticism from Illinois officials. The president accuses the state of failing to control violence, while Governor J.B. Pritzker insists that the situation is under control.

Trump has hinted at using the Insurrection Act, an 1807 law that allows presidents to send troops into states without their consent in cases of “insurrection” or rebellion. It has rarely been used in modern times — last invoked during the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

If enforced now, it could mark a dramatic escalation in the balance between federal authority and state autonomy. The move also recalls the deep divisions that led to the Civil War of 1861, when disputes over states’ rights and federal control tore the nation apart.

As tensions rise in Illinois, the question remains: will Trump take that step, and what precedent will it set for the future of American democracy?