Question

I understand a proposed amendment to the Constitution—which amendment, however, I have not seen—has passed Congress, to the effect that the Federal Government shall never interfere with the domestic institutions of the States, including that of persons held to service. To avoid misconstruction of what I have said, I depart from my purpose not to speak of particular amendments so far as to say that, holding such a provision to now be implied constitutional law, I have no objection to its being made express and irrevocable.

— Abraham Lincoln, First Inaugural Address, 1861

And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.
— Abraham Lincoln, Emancipation Proclamation, 1863

Which statement best describes how the change in Lincoln's views reflected in the excerpts affected the United States after the Civil War?
A. The economic rights of the northern states became more important than the legal rights of the people.
B. The legal rights of corporations became less important than the political rights of the states.
C. The economic rights of southern states became less important than the natural rights of the people.
D. The political rights of corporations became more important than the natural rights of the states.

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

C. The economic rights of southern states became less important than the natural rights of the people.