What arguments did Abraham Lincoln use against the secession of the Southern states? Select all that apply.

Abraham Lincoln's arguments against the secession of the Southern states included:

1. The government was a union of people, not states. Lincoln emphasized that the United States was formed as a single entity representing the people, rather than a loose confederation of independent states. This perspective underscored the idea that the union was more than just a collection of states and that secession was a threat to the very foundation of the nation.

2. The Southern states lacked the power to secede under the Constitution. Lincoln argued that the Constitution did not provide a legal basis for states to unilaterally secede from the Union. He believed that secession was not only illegal but also unconstitutional, as it undermined the principles of governance embedded in the Constitution.

These arguments encapsulate Lincoln's beliefs about the nature of the Union and the legal framework governing the states.