Asked by Makayla

Lincoln promised the South that he would not interfere with slavery where it already existed.

True
False

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
True.

Lincoln and the Republican platform pledged not to interfere with slavery in states where it already existed (they opposed its expansion into the territories). In his first inaugural he reiterated he had no lawful right to abolish slavery in the states where it existed—though wartime measures (notably the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation) later changed federal policy toward slavery in rebelling states.