Question

Read these sentences from the speech in which Lincoln describes his perspective about the cause of the war.

All knew that this interest was somehow the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union even by war, while the Government claimed no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it.

How do these sentences advance Lincoln’s viewpoint?

A. Lincoln shows that the Union was destined to fail because the country chose to allow slavery while claiming national values of freedom and liberty.


B. Lincoln asserts that if the South had been allowed to practice slavery as it had for hundreds of years, war could have been avoided.


C. Lincoln believes that if the South had simply accepted restrictions on the expansion of slavery, war could have been avoided.

D. Lincoln feels that the government is to blame for the war because it placed unnecessary restrictions on the expansion of slavery.

Answer 1

Abraham Lincoln believed that if the insurgents continued to promote their cause, slavery, regardless of territorial expansion, it would weaken the Union to the point of its destruction because slavery and national values of freedom and liberty could not coexist.

Answer 2

Answer: A. Lincoln shows that the Union was destined to fail because the country chose to allow slavery while claiming national values of freedom and liberty.

In this excerpt, Lincoln is arguing that the cause of the war was slavery, and more importantly, the different ways in which slavery was seen by the government and the South. The government's initial position on it was simply to try to resist its expansion. However, strong measures had to be taken at some point as slavery was not compatible with the values of the country (such as freedom and liberty). As the South was not willing to give up this practice, conflict was sure to follow.