Question

question 18

which statement about lincolns actions and intentions during the civil war is true?

lincoln hoped the emancipation proclamation would get border states to switch sides.
lincolns original goal was to preserve the union, even if slavery remained.
lincoln was eager to end slavery and make freed slaves political equals.
lincoln wanted the war to end, even if it meant acknowledging the confederacy.

Explanation:

Analyze Lincoln's primary war aims

At the outbreak of the American Civil War, Abraham Lincoln's primary and overriding objective was to preserve the Union. In his famous 1862 letter to Horace Greeley, he explicitly stated: "My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it..." This confirms that his original goal was preservation of the Union, even if slavery remained intact.

Evaluate the alternative options

• Lincoln hoped the Emancipation Proclamation would get border states to switch sides: This is incorrect. The Emancipation Proclamation specifically exempted the loyal border states to prevent them from seceding and joining the Confederacy.
• Lincoln was eager to end slavery and make freed slaves political equals: This is incorrect. While Lincoln opposed slavery morally, his early political actions were cautious, and he did not initially advocate for immediate social or political equality for freed African Americans.
• Lincoln wanted the war to end, even if it meant acknowledging the Confederacy: This is incorrect. Lincoln consistently refused to recognize the legitimacy of the Confederacy as an independent nation, maintaining that secession was legally void.

Apply the mastered concept

Using the Abraham Lincoln Slavery Views knowledge point, we confirm that Lincoln's early war policy prioritized national unity over immediate abolition, making the second option the historically accurate statement.

Answer:

• Lincoln hoped the Emancipation Proclamation would get border states to switch sides.
• Lincoln's original goal was to preserve the Union, even if slavery remained. (Correct answer)
• Lincoln was eager to end slavery and make freed slaves political equals.
• Lincoln wanted the war to end, even if it meant acknowledging the Confederacy.