Why were the border states so important to Lincoln in reuniting the nation?

Answer 1

Maryland was the capital,first and foremost, and besides the border states being full of resourceful and tactical rivers, they had an exceptional populous. Had they been 'allowed' to fight for the Confederacy,it's likely the Union wouldn't have won the Civil War, as the South was already lower on population than the North, and having the Border States would have given them a substantial boost.

Answer 2

During the American Civil War, the border states were important for Lincoln and other Union leaders because of the "tipping" factor involved in their allegiance. Should they choose to join the secessionist states, the advantage in the war would "tip" away from the North in favor of the South.

Answer 3

There were four border states or 'Buffer-states', Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland and Delaware - that is, slave-states that had (narrowly) voted against joining the Confederacy. Lincoln knew that if he upset the people of these states, it might drive them into the arms of the Confederates, which would have tilted the odds dangerously against the Union. Even as it was, Missouri was plagued with guerrilla activity throughout the war, and Kentucky had a Confederate puppet-government breifly installed by Braxton Bragg. It is to Lincoln's credfit that he managed to keep all four states essentially loyal till the end.

Answer 4

Because they did not vote Confederate - that is, they did not approve of secession, and increasingly believed that the South could not win a long war.

Answer 5

To avoid having Washington, D.C., open to attack on two sides.

Answer 6

He wanted to keep the Union together to help the armies provide securtiy and shelter and others goods that they couldn't aford.

Answer 7

He wanted to keep Missouri, West Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware in the Union.