Question

On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded it, all sought to avert it. While the inaugural address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, insurgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war-seeking to dissolve the Union and divide effects by negotiation. Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came."

What theme is presented in this passage from President Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address?
One side did not want war
Both sides wanted war
Lincoln’s speech caused war
War was unwanted, but unavoidable

Answer 1

"War was unwanted but unavoidable" the reason for this is because they side one part wanted war not matter the consequences and the other wanted their nation to survive so they had to go to war so the other country would not destroy their country... :P

Answer 2

Answer: War was unwanted, but unavoidable.

In this excerpt, President Lincoln states that the war was unwanted, but unavoidable. The South did not want war, but they refused to let the Union survive. On the other hand, the North did not want war, but refused to let the Union perish. Even though neither side wanted it, the war became inevitable.