Identify the goals of Abraham Lincoln in responding to the succession of South Carolina and ultimately, the South as a whole.
Abraham Lincoln's primary goals in responding to the secession of South Carolina and the South as a whole can be characterized as:
1. Preservation of the Union: Lincoln's primary objective was to maintain the unity and integrity of the United States. He viewed the secession of South Carolina and other southern states as a direct threat to the Union and believed that the nation could not survive if it allowed states to secede at will. He saw secession as an illegal act and was determined to prevent the dissolution of the country.
2. Avoidance of armed conflict: Lincoln sought to find a peaceful resolution to the secession crisis. Even though he was unwilling to recognize the legality of secession, he hoped to find a compromise that would convince the Southern states to remain part of the Union without resorting to military force. Lincoln understood that armed conflict would have devastating consequences for the nation, and he made several efforts to negotiate with the seceding states to avoid war.
3. Protecting federal property: When South Carolina seceded in December 1860, it seized federal installations within its borders, such as forts and arsenals. Lincoln's goal was to reclaim these federal properties and reestablish the authority of the federal government over all its territories. He considered it essential to demonstrate that the states could not simply secede and take federal property with them.
4. Abolition of slavery: Although not initially one of his primary goals, Lincoln's stance on emancipation evolved over time. From the beginning of the Civil War, his primary concern was the preservation of the Union, but he increasingly realized that the existence of slavery was the underlying cause of the conflict. As the war progressed, he came to believe that freeing the slaves would weaken the Southern war effort and bring a quicker end to the conflict.
Overall, Lincoln's goals in responding to the secession of South Carolina and the South as a whole were to preserve the Union, avoid armed conflict, protect federal property, and eventually bring an end to slavery.