"It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth."
— Abraham Lincoln

Which of the following best explains why Lincoln links victory in the Civil War to preserving "government of the people, by the people, and for the people"?

A. He believes the Confederacy wants to destroy the Union.
B. He does not believe the South has the right to break up the Union by force.
C. He worries that a divided United States might be vulnerable to outside attack.