Answer: in the explanation:
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1864, the country was in the midst of the Civil War, which had begun in 1861. The war was fought between the United States, led by President Abraham Lincoln, and the Confederate States of America, led by President Jefferson Davis. The conflict was primarily over the issue of slavery, as the Confederate states had seceded from the Union in order to preserve the institution of slavery.
At this point in the war, the Union was making gains against the Confederacy. President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which declared all slaves in the Confederate states to be free. This had a significant impact on the war, as it effectively made the conflict about both preserving the Union and abolishing slavery.
In 1864, Lincoln was running for re-election, and he campaigned on the platform of preserving the Union and ending slavery. He was ultimately re-elected, which was seen as a mandate for his policies.
The country was becoming more united, as the Union was making progress in the war and the abolition of slavery was becoming a more prominent goal. However, the country was also deeply divided, as the Confederacy was still actively fighting for its independence and the preservation of slavery.
The country was moving towards the abolition of slavery, as the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued and the Union was making progress in the war. However, the end of slavery was not yet certain and the war would continue until April 9, 1865.