Question

why did lincoln want to prevent maryland from seceding

Answer 1

The most important reason that President Lincoln did not want Maryland to secede from the Union had to do with the location of Washington, D.C. Maryland lies to the north of Washington. This meant that, if Maryland were to secede, the capitol of the United States would have been cut off from any contact with the US and would surely have fallen to the Confederates. This would have been a humiliating thing that would have helped the Confederacy immeasurably.

Answer 2

http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/why-did-president-lincoln-want-prevent-maryland-278881

Answer 3

Because it would have been very serious to have Washington D.C. surrounded by enemy territory.