Final answer:
Lincoln's main goal during the early Civil War was to preserve the Union, and his initial approach to slavery was to hope for its gradual end. It was only later that he moved towards emancipation for strategic military and diplomatic advantages. The correct option is 3.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lincoln's Main Goal during the Early Part of the Civil War
During the early part of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln's main goal was to preserve the Union. This is clearly supported by historical evidence which indicates that while Lincoln was personally against slavery, he did not consider immediate abolition as a practical or constitutional approach at the start of the war.
It was not until later in the conflict, recognizing the strategic advantage of emancipation from both a military and diplomatic standpoint, that Lincoln decided to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. Initially, he had hoped that slavery would end gradually without the need for sudden legislative or executive actions.
His primary concern was to ensure the cohesion of the United States and return the Southern states to the Union. The preservation of the Union was paramount to Lincoln, even if it meant tolerating slavery for some time.
Lincoln's eventual move towards emancipation, including the drafting of the Emancipation Proclamation, was a strategic decision that aimed to weaken the South's resources and to garner international support by aligning the Union with the widely supported cause of ending slavery. The correct option is 3.