Final answer:
Abraham Lincoln's response to the secession crisis combined conciliatory measures regarding slavery with a firm rejection of secession as unconstitutional. His initial refusal to disturb slavery was coupled with decisive actions to suppress the rebellion, leading to the Civil War's outbreak.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lincoln's Response to the Secession Crisis
After his inauguration in March 1861, Abraham Lincoln's response to the secession crisis was one of both conciliation and firmness. On inauguration day, Lincoln declared that he would not interfere with slavery where it already existed, acknowledging his belief that he had no legal right nor the inclination to do so. However, Lincoln's stance on slavery was a nuanced one; while he recognized it in states where it existed, he also pledged to prevent the spread of slavery into new territories. Moreover, Lincoln addressed the issue of secession by stating that the Union could not be dissolved by individual states and that secession was unconstitutional. In his inaugural address, he affirmed the permanent nature of the Union, repudiated secession, and made a plea for reconciliation asserting 'We are not enemies, but friends...Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.'
After the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861, President Lincoln took significant actions, calling for 75,000 volunteers to suppress the rebellion, and initiating a naval blockade of the South. These measures marked the official beginning of the American Civil War, as they elicited the Confederacy's declaration of a state of war with the United States. Lincoln's early actions and speeches set the tone of his presidency during the Civil War, balancing the enforcement of federal laws with an effort to restore and maintain the Union.