Final answer:
Abraham Lincoln believed that the purpose of the Civil War was to test whether the United States could survive as a nation dedicated to liberty and equality. The war brought about profound changes and ultimately resulted in the preservation of the Union.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Abraham Lincoln, the purpose of the Civil War was to see if the United States could survive as a nation dedicated to liberty and equality. In his Gettysburg Address, Lincoln spoke about the war as a test to determine whether a nation 'conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal' could endure. He emphasized the importance of preserving the Union and ensuring that the sacrifices of those who gave their lives in the war would not be in vain. The Civil War brought about significant social, political, and economic changes in the United States.