Final answer:
Lincoln's admission of Nevada to the Union was a strategic political move to garner support for the Thirteenth Amendment and secure Union victory. This highlights the political intricacies of Lincoln's presidency in balancing the Union's goals and emancipation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sandburg describes Lincoln's admission of Nevada to the Union as manipulation because it was a strategic move during a critical period of the Civil War. The state's admission was less about the territory and more about securing political advantage. Nevada's entry promised Lincoln additional support in the Senate, more votes for the proposed Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery, and the boosting morale of the Northern states. This political maneuver was one of many by Lincoln aimed at preserving the Union and ensuring the end of slavery. It exemplifies the complex balancing act that Lincoln navigated between political necessity, the advancement of moral causes like emancipation, and military strategy.
Lincoln's administration involved decisions that evolved around several legislative acts, such as the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which divided the Democratic Party and the nation. Lincoln's careful political strategies and prioritization of the Union's goals were evident throughout his presidency, including in acts of emancipation and restoration.