Lincoln's Letter & On the War

Which statement BEST describes how Lincoln's political stance unfolds in paragraph 1 of his letter?

• Lincoln admits to knowing that his political viewpoints and actions are not popular.

• Lincoln develops the idea that his army is made stronger because of the end of slavery.

• Lincoln creates an imagined scenario that reveals how his opponents' views are awed.

• Lincoln systematically addresses his opponents' views and argues why those views are wrong.

Read the sentences from paragraph 3 of "Lincoln's Letter to James C. Conkling."

But the [Emancipation Proclamation], as law, either is valid or is not valid. If it is not valid, it needs no retraction. If it is valid, it cannot be retracted any more than the dead can be brought to life.

What is the meaning of the word retraction as it is used in these sentences?

• abbreviation or shortening

• consideration or analysis

• cancellation or withdrawal

• attention or emphasis

How does paragraph 2 of "Lincoln's Letter to James C. Conkling" expand on his idea that "the strength of the rebellion is its military, its army"?

• by predicting that Lee's army will invade a Northern state

• by saying that the Union army can prevent the South's army from moving into Northern states

• by stating that any attempt at compromise will be a waste of time

• by showing how dealing with anyone but the army will lead to an ineffective outcome

In "Lincoln's Letter to James C. Conkling," why does Lincoln mention having black soldiers in the Army?

• to suggest that all people must make sacrifices

• to justify the Emancipation Proclamation

• to explain why the conflict will be resolved with armies

• to make clear the strength of the Union Army

Which excerpt from the text BEST supports the answer in Part A?

• If you are not for it, a second way is to give up the Union.

• Any offer of terms made by any man or men within that range, in opposition to that army, is simply nothing for the present . . .

• Some of you profess to think its retraction would operate favourably for the Union.

• . . . and that at least one of these important successes could not have been achieved when it was but for the aid of black soldiers.

Read this sentence from paragraph 2 of "On the War and Its Conduct."

THe disease had fastened too strongly upon the system to be healed until it had run its course.

What is the "disease" to which Vallandigham refers?

• the destructive nature of civil war between states that were once strongly united

• the desire for the South to secede from the Union

• the unresolved tension between the North and South based on opposing views of slavery

• the display of force taken by the Union against Southern states

In which sentence does President Lincoln warn the people that the war will not end quickly?

• You desire peace and you blame me that we do not have it.

• There was more than a year and a half of trial to suppress the rebellion before the proclamation issued.

• The war has certainly progressed as favourably for us since the issue of the proclamation as before.

• Still, let us not be over-sanguine of a speedy, final triumph.

Which sentence from "On the War and Its Conduct" asserts that preventing a war became impossible?

• Sir, I am one of that number who have opposed abolitionism, or the political development of the antislavery sentiment of the North and West, from the beginning.

• But there never was an hour from the beginning when it did not seem to me as clear as the sun at broad noon that the agitation in any form in the North and West of the slavery question must sooner or later end in disunion and civil war.

• withdrawal of a promise, statement, opinion, etc.

• a natural liking for or attraction to a person, thing, idea, etc.

Which sentence from "On the War and Its Conduct" BEST summarizes the central idea of the speech?

• The parent and the child would thus both perish.

• The wolf had come, but civil war had not yet followed.

• In any event, I knew, or thought I knew, that the end was certain collision and death to the Union.

• The spirit of nonintervention is the very spirit of peace and concord.

Vallandigham is a proponent of non-coercion, in which a person cannot force or coerce how another person acts. In what way does Vallandigham contradict his belief in non-coercion?

• He also believes in democracy, which allows the people the right to vote.

• He also believes in non-intervention, which is a refusal to intervene in the affairs of others.

• He also believes in slavery, which forces a person to be subservient to his master.

• He also believes in compromise, in which both sides agree to settle an argument.