Question

on which issue did lincoln and davis most strongly disagree?

whether the south had seceded for a reason
whether the south had the right to secede
whether slavery would continue to exist in the south
whether the north and the south would go to war

Explanation:

Analyze Lincoln's perspective on secession

Using the Lincoln First Inaugural knowledge point, Abraham Lincoln firmly believed that the Union was perpetual and that no state could lawfully leave it. He argued that secession was constitutionally invalid and amounted to an act of rebellion.

Analyze Davis's perspective on secession

Using the Jefferson Davis Inaugural Address and Secession Justification knowledge points, Jefferson Davis argued that the states had entered into a voluntary compact under the Constitution. Therefore, they retained their sovereignty and possessed a legal right to secede when their interests were threatened.

Compare the remaining options

Both leaders acknowledged that the South had seceded for specific reasons (such as protecting slavery). Lincoln also explicitly stated in his first inaugural address that he had no intention or lawful right to interfere with slavery where it already existed in the South. Finally, neither leader initially wanted war, though both prepared for it. Thus, their most fundamental constitutional disagreement was over the legal right of secession itself.

Answer:

• whether the South had seceded for a reason
• whether the South had the right to secede (Correct answer)
• whether slavery would continue to exist in the South
• whether the North and the South would go to war