- Preserve the Union: The Union fought to prevent the Confederate states from seceding and to maintain the federal government's authority over the entire country.
- End slavery: The Union saw the abolition of slavery as a moral imperative and as a way to weaken the Confederate economy.
- Maintain control of the border states: The border states (such as Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri) were crucial to both sides because they provided access to resources and transportation routes. The Union sought to keep these states in the Union and prevent them from joining the Confederacy.
- Win the war militarily: The Union had a decided advantage in terms of population, resources, and industrial capacity. It aimed to use these advantages to defeat the Confederate armies and ultimately win the war.
- Restore the United States as a single, unified nation: The Union wanted to reunite the country under the federal government and establish a lasting peace.
These goals evolved over the course of the war as the Union's understanding of the conflict and its objectives changed. In the early stages of the war, the focus was primarily on preserving the Union. However, as the war progressed and the issue of slavery became more central, the Union increasingly saw the abolition of slavery as a necessary condition for a lasting peace.