What are the possible benefits and drawbacks to having a very large country?

Benefit: More land so you can possibly produce more goods/services and boost your economy.

Drawback: Country may collapse, individual state territories may take over etc.

Explanation:

lincoln presided over the union victory in the american civil war, which dominated his presidency. a former whig, lincoln ran on a political platform opposed to the expansion of slavery in the territories. his election served as the immediate impetus for the outbreak of the american civil war.