Based on what you have read, write two or three sentences explaining what Lincoln believed the Civil War was being fought to accomplish. Think about his descriptions of why the war was fought and what would happen if the Union won.

Answer 1

Abraham Lincoln believed that the Civil War was fought to preserve the Union and uphold the principles of democracy and equality set forth in the Declaration of Independence. He viewed the conflict as a test of whether a nation dedicated to liberty could endure, emphasizing that the victory of the Union would ensure the survival of a government "of the people, by the people, for the people." Moreover, Lincoln saw the war as an opportunity to lead the nation toward a new birth of freedom, ultimately aiming to abolish slavery and secure civil rights for all citizens.