Question

read the passage from lincoln’s second inaugural address and then answer the question. what did lincoln mean in this passage?
both sides were willing to destroy the nation by letting the war begin.
the north started the war to stop slavery, and the south fought to keep slavery.
the south would destroy the nation, so the north had to fight for the nation’s survival.
done
\both parties (disapproved of) war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came.\
—abraham lincoln
second inaugural address
march 4, 1865

Explanation:

To determine Lincoln's meaning, analyze the quote: "Both parties disapproved of war, but one would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish". Let's evaluate each option:

• Option 1: The quote says both disapproved of war, so they weren't willing to destroy the nation by starting war. Eliminate.
• Option 2: The quote doesn't mention slavery as the cause. Eliminate.
• Option 3: One party (South) would make war to prevent the nation's survival (likely to preserve slavery and their way), and the other (North) accepted war to save the nation. This matches the quote.

Answer:

C. The South would destroy the nation, so the North had to fight for the nation’s survival. (Note: Assuming the options are labeled A, B, C with the third option as C. If original labels differ, adjust accordingly based on the third option's text.)