“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

Use the passage to answer the question.

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

(1 point)
Responses

freeing the slaves
freeing the slaves

punishing the South
punishing the South

preserving the Union
preserving the Union

not addressing slavery

preserving the Union