- Preserve the Union: The Northern states were determined to keep the United States together as a single nation. They believed that secession was illegal and that the Southern states had no right to leave the Union.
- End Slavery: The Northern states wanted to end slavery once and for all. They believed that slavery was a morally repugnant institution that contradicted the principles of democracy and individual liberty.
- Preserve the United States as a prosperous and free country: The Northern states believed that the United States had a bright future as a prosperous and free nation. They wanted to preserve this future by defeating the Confederacy and keeping the Union intact.