Nyour hands, my dissatisfied fellow countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. the government will not assail you. you can have no conflict without being yourselves the aggressors. you have no oath registered in heaven to destroy the government, while i shall have the most solemn one to "preserve, protect, and defend it." … — president abraham lincoln — when president lincoln made this speech, which step toward civil war had already taken place?

"the plan of removing the aboriginal people who yet remain within the settled portions of the united states . . approaches its consummation. . an extensive region . . has been assigned for their permanent residence. it has been divided into districts and allotted among them. many have already removed and others are preparing to go. . " removal of southern indians to indian territory, 1835 this passage is most closely related to a) imperialism. b) the civil war. c) westward expansion. d) the french indian war.