“If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it; and if I could do it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it; and if I could do it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that.”

-Abraham Lincoln August 22, 1862

Based on the quote, what is Lincoln’s primary goal?

freeing the slaves

punishing the South

preserving the Union

not addressing slavery