Final answer:
The Confederacy vehemently rejected Lincoln preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, reinforcing their commitment to maintaining slavery. Confederate leaders saw the Proclamation as an attack on their societal foundations rather than an opportunity for peace or reunification.
Step-by-step explanation:
How the Confederacy responded to Lincoln offer in the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation is a significant part of American history, reflecting on the sentiments of the time. The preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which was issued on September 22, 1862, declared that slaves in areas still in rebellion as of January 1, 1863, would be free. Despite Lincoln framing this as a military necessity for the preservation of the Union and even proposing compensated, gradual emancipation and voluntary colonization, the Confederacy rejected the proposal outright and did not see it as a gesture for peace or reunification. Confederate leaders viewed the Proclamation as an affront, further solidifying their commitment to maintain slavery, which they considered the foundation of their society and economy.