Question

strategies and early battles
guided practice
the first large battle of the civil war did not take place until three months after the firing on fort sumter. the battle, known as the battle of bull run, proved a shock to those who had hoped the war would end quickly.
how did abraham lincoln help ensure that border states supported the union?
a. he blockaded cities within the border states.
b. he insisted that his only goal was to save the union, not end slavery.
c. he immediately ended slavery in the border states.
d. he built railroads connecting the border states to the north.

Explanation:

Border states were slave states that stayed in the Union. Lincoln prioritized preserving the Union over ending slavery initially, which reassured these states that their slavery systems would not be immediately targeted, keeping them aligned with the Union. Blockading their cities (A) would have alienated them, ending slavery there (C) would have pushed them to secede, and building railroads (D) was not a key action to secure their support.

Answer:

B. He insisted that his only goal was to save the Union, not end slavery.