The civil war did achieve its stated goal. Here is Lincoln on his goal for the war: >My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not eit

The civil war did achieve its stated goal. Here is Lincoln on his goal for the war: >My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that He saved the Union so he accomplished his goal for the war.