Final answer:
Abraham Lincoln promised not to interfere with existing slavery but opposed its expansion in the 1860 campaign. His policy evolved, leading to the Emancipation Proclamation and support for the Thirteenth Amendment to abolish slavery.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of Abraham Lincoln's campaign promises during the 1860 presidential election was not to interfere with slavery where it already existed but also to oppose the expansion of slavery into new territories. His focus was on preserving the Union rather than immediately eliminating slavery. However, as the Civil War progressed, his stance evolved, leading to the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which declared the freedom of slaves in the Confederacy, and ultimately to his support for the Thirteenth Amendment, which would end slavery throughout the United States. Lincoln's initial approach aimed to reconcile the country and was a part of his broader strategy for quickly reintegrating Southern states into the Union.