Answer:
President Lincoln made the abolition of slavery one of the main goals of the Union forces in the Civil War primarily due to a combination of moral conviction and strategic considerations:
1. Moral Conviction: Lincoln believed that slavery was morally wrong and inconsistent with the principles of freedom and equality enshrined in the Declaration of Independence. He saw the Civil War as an opportunity to end the institution of slavery and fulfill the promise of liberty for all Americans.
2. Strategic Considerations: As the Civil War progressed, Lincoln recognized the strategic importance of emancipating enslaved people in the Confederate states. By issuing the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, he aimed to undermine the Confederate economy, weaken their war effort, and rally support for the Union cause among abolitionists in the North and enslaved individuals in the South.
Overall, Lincoln's decision to prioritize the abolition of slavery as a war goal was driven by both moral imperatives and strategic objectives aimed at strengthening the Union and advancing the cause of freedom.