Question

question 10 of 10

which factor led president lincoln to make the abolition of slavery one of the main goals of the union forces in the civil war?

a. abolitionists had gradually become more influential in the north.
b. slaveholders in the north refused to support the union war effort.
c. border states threatened to leave the union if slavery was not abolished.
d. leaders of the democratic party demanded that all enslaved people be freed.

Explanation:

Analyze Lincoln's shifting war aims

Initially, President Abraham Lincoln's primary goal in the American Civil War was to preserve the Union rather than abolish slavery. However, as the war progressed, several political, military, and social pressures pushed him toward making emancipation a central war aim.

Evaluate the influence of abolitionists

Over the course of the early war years, abolitionists and Radical Republicans in the North grew increasingly influential. They argued that slavery was the root cause of the conflict and that the Union could not be truly restored or secured without destroying the institution. This growing political pressure, combined with the military necessity of weakening the Confederate economy, led Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

Eliminate incorrect options

• Option B is incorrect because there were virtually no slaveholders in the North, and Northern support did not hinge on Northern slaveholders.
• Option C is incorrect because the slave-holding Border States (like Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri) strongly opposed abolition and threatened to secede if Lincoln moved too quickly against slavery.
• Option D is incorrect because the Democratic Party during the Civil War generally opposed emancipation and favored a negotiated peace that preserved the status quo.

Answer:

• A. Abolitionists had gradually become more influential in the North. (Correct answer)
• B. Slaveholders in the North refused to support the Union war effort.
• C. Border states threatened to leave the Union if slavery was not abolished.
• D. Leaders of the Democratic Party demanded that all enslaved people be freed.