The Civil War wasn’t about slavery, but states’ rights.
Lincoln only latched onto slavery in the hopes of seeing a slave revolt in the Confederacy, diverting precious troops from the front lines.
No. Whatever Lincoln thought of slavery, the Emancipation Proclamation came when it did because making the war about slavery would prevent the Confederates from getting recognition and assistance from Britain or France. Lincoln even omitted language from the Proclamation that could have been construed as supporting slave uprisings.