Excerpt from lincoln’s second inaugural address
abraham lincoln

on the occasion corresponding to this four years ago, all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. all dreaded it—all sought to avert it. while the inaugural address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the union without war, insurgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war—seeking to dissolve the union, and divide effects, by negotiation. both parties deprecated war; but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive; and the other would accept war rather than let it perish. and the war came.

what was lincoln trying to avoid four years ago when he delivered his first inaugural address?
a) the south
b) civil war
c) the north
d) the union