Question

Why was the loyalty of the border states important, and how did Lincoln obtain and keep their loyalty?

Answer 1

At times, he had to resort to force to prevent the border states from joining the Confederacy. In the spring of 1861, for example, Lincoln declared martial law in Maryland and sent troops to occupy the state after protesters attacked Union soldiers marching to Washington, D.C.

Answer 2

Lincoln had to pursue a moderate path in his policies to assure the border states' continuing support. To keep the border states from joining the Confederacy, he had to resort to force on occasion.

Step-by-step explanation:

To maintain the support of the border states, Lincoln had to take a moderate approach to his programs. He had to use force at times to keep the border states from joining the Confederacy.