Preservation of the Union: The Union's overarching objective was to maintain the integrity and unity of the United States, preventing the secession of Southern states and their formation of a separate Confederate nation.
Abolition of Slavery: As the war progressed, the abolition of slavery became a central Union goal. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing enslaved individuals in the Confederate states, and the 13th Amendment was passed by Congress in 1865, officially abolishing slavery throughout the United States.
Restoration of Federal Authority: The Union aimed to assert the federal government's authority over all territories and states, including the seceding Southern states, and to reestablish control over these areas.
Promotion of Economic Development: The Union sought to foster economic development and infrastructure, particularly in the western territories, to strengthen the nation's economy and expand trade.
Defeat of the Confederate States: The ultimate military objective of the Union was the defeat of the Confederate States, their armies, and their government, thus ending the armed conflict and restoring the United States as a unified nation.