"The Confederate forces were encouraged to start an offensive in the North and invade Maryland" was the result of the defeat of the Union forces at the Second Battle of Bull Run, or Manassas
Answer: Option C
Explanation:
The Second Battle of Bull Run/Battle of Second Manassas was marked in Virginia and witness remarkable victory for Robert E. Lee and Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Soon after this battle which was fought between 28th -30th August 1862, Maryland campaign was flagged off between 4th -20th September 1862 which is also named as “Antietam campaign”.
Lee objective was to devastate northern morale in prolepsis of November elections but his Maryland campaign failed. And became huge victory for President Abraham Lincoln who used this as justification and ordered “Emancipation Proclamation” also called “Proclamation 95” which threw uproot of any terror of European support for Confederate States of America.