The biggest problem that Lincoln faced was trying to hold the Union together. Not long after he was elected, a number of Southern states seceded to form the Confederacy. Inevitably, this undermined the integrity of the Union, which made Lincoln's job all the more difficult.
Once the Civil War broke out, Lincoln then had to figure out how to win it, which was by no means an easy task. The war would be fought primarily on Southern soil, and it would involve not only with defeating the South militarily, but also with incorporating them back into the Union once the war was finally won. The successful accomplishment of these twin aims would've been hard for anyone, but for a new president without any military experience, they were doubly so.
It may seem hard for us to believe, given the deep reverence with which Lincoln is held today, but many of his contemporaries, including many within his own party, seriously doubted his abilities. Many were convinced that the South would win the Civil War and in the process destroy the Union forever.
Abraham Lincoln faced several problems. Soon after he won the election in 1860, seven southern states seceded from the Union. President Lincoln tried to convince the other southern states to remain in the Union, but four more southern states seceded after the attack at Fort Sumter.
Once the Civil War began, President Lincoln needed to keep some of the Border States in the Union. For example, if Maryland seceded, Washington, D.C. would have been in the Confederacy. He arrested many Maryland lawmakers who were sympathetic to Confederacy, which prevented them from voting to secede. As a result, Maryland remained in the Union.
President Lincoln had to deal with ineffective military leadership. For example, General McClelland was so hesitant to move his army that he lost opportunities to defeat the South in battle. One example was after the battle fought at Antietam. General McClelland didn’t pursue General Lee’s army.
President Lincoln also had to deal with opposition in the North. There were Northerners who wanted a peaceful end to the war. Other people were opposed to the draft. President Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus to deal with possible disloyal activities.
Other people were dismayed that the Civil War had not ended as the election of 1864 approached. Fortunately, there were some victories in 1864 that helped boost Northern morale. Also, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, making it clear that this was a war that was being fought to end slavery in the United States.
Abraham Lincoln had several issues with which he had to deal.
https://millercenter.org/president/lincoln/domestic-affairs
https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/stagser/s1259/121/7590/html/0000.html
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