At the beginning of civil war, Kentucky declared itself neutral in the conflict. President Abraham lincoln decided to respect the states choice and not try to force it to declare lotalty to tge union what most likely explains lincolns decision

Lincoln's fear of losing democracy and his belief that secession was unlawful.

Explanation:

Lincoln's fear of losing democracy gave several reasons, among them his belief that secession was unlawful, he thought states are not physically able to be separated, he was afraid that secession would cause the weakened government to descend into anarchy and thought that all Americans should befriend with each other rather than possess conflicts.

Kentucky was a border state in the American Civil War. It has a strategic importance. Kentucky officially declared its neutrality at the beginning of the war, but after a failed attempt by Polk to take the state of Kentucky for the Confederacy the legislature petitioned the Union Army for assistance.