Why did Lincoln allow states to return to US before he emancipated the slaves?

Lincoln allowed states to return to the Union before he emancipated the slaves as part of his broader strategy to preserve the Union. He believed that restoring loyalty among the border states and those in rebellion could help stabilize the nation and ultimately strengthen the Union cause. Additionally, he viewed emancipation as a military necessity that could undermine the Confederacy, but he prioritized reconciliation and the re-establishment of states' rights to encourage a quicker end to the conflict. Emancipation was a critical step, but it was also a means to achieve the larger goal of national unity.