i'm stuck on this one..between B and C

During the early part of the war, Lincoln's main goal was to
a. reduce the power of the states
b. preserve the Union
c. stop the spread of slavery
d. free the slaves

???

What did the war have to do with stopping the spread of slavery?

wasn't Lincoln against slavery and all...?

Yes. But that wasn't his prime motivation in fighting the Civil War. Check out this article.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_on_slavery

so b

Yes.

To determine the correct answer between options B and C, let's evaluate the information given and carefully analyze Lincoln's goals during the early part of the war.

Option B: Preserve the Union
Option C: Stop the spread of slavery

To identify Lincoln's main goal, we need to consider the context of the time. During the early part of the war, which refers to the American Civil War, Lincoln's primary concern was maintaining the unity of the United States. The Confederate states had seceded in an attempt to protect their right to have and expand slavery. Lincoln, however, believed in the importance of preserving the Union and preventing the disintegration of the United States.

While Lincoln personally opposed the institution of slavery, his primary objective was not to actively end slavery at this stage of the war. Instead, he sought to prevent its expansion into new territories and states. Lincoln understood that by stopping the spread of slavery, its eventual demise would be more likely.

Therefore, the correct answer is option B: preserve the Union.

To navigate similar questions in the future, it is essential to consider the historical context and connect the goals of specific individuals or events to the broader historical period. This approach will help you extract relevant information and select the most appropriate answer based on the facts provided.