How Did Lincoln Lose The Civil War

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because they could alternatively leave whenever they disagreed. Lincoln also went on to question a state’s right to secede from a government. The legality of a secesion of a state or states leads to a central question whether or not a strong democratic government can exist. If a constitutional democracy cannot maintain its collective territory against its own people, then it cannot be strong as a nation (338). A strong government would not split up due to a disagreement in constitutional rights. Lincoln set out to dissolve the legitimacy of the South’s secession, but despite the answer to its credibility, the Civil War started.
The goal to avoid fighting in the Civil War proved to be the main priority of Lincoln, and after the Union engaged the
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Emancipation would strategically benefit the Union in conquering the Confederacy. While abolishment to many was a moral issue, to Lincoln it served as a tool to win a war. This tool would only be used if it proved itself as absolutely necessary.
Regardless of slavery’s future, Lincoln tried to terminate the war as soon as possible. In a letter to Horace Greely, Lincoln stated he “would save [the Union] in the shortest way under the constitution” (362). His desire to end the war quickly meant he would do whatever it takes. For Lincoln, a swift victory overpowered the desire to abolish slavery. Lincoln does not agree with the people who would only save the Union in an effort to end slavery, nor does he agree with those who would only save it to destroy slavery. Lincoln declared his “paramount object” for the war was to save the Union, and “not either to save or to destroy slavery”, in the same letter (362). Preservation of the Union is the primary goal over