Which compromise attempted to address the issue of slavery and was rejected by Lincoln?

The Crittenden Compromise sought to address the contentious issue of slavery in the years leading up to the Civil War by proposing a constitutional amendment to protect slavery in territories south of the 36°30′ parallel. This compromise was introduced by Senator John J. Crittenden in late 1860, after the election of Abraham Lincoln, who was perceived as a threat to the institution of slavery due to his party's platform opposing its spread.

Lincoln rejected the Crittenden Compromise primarily because it could allow for the expansion of slavery into new territories, which contradicted his stance against the spread of slavery. He believed that the nation could not endure half-slave and half-free and was committed to preventing the extension of slavery. The rejection of this compromise illustrates the deep divisions in the country over the issue of slavery and foreshadows the imminent conflict that would result in the Civil War.

In contrast, the other options, such as the Missouri Compromise, Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the Lecompton Constitution, either represent earlier efforts to manage the issue of slavery or are not directly tied to Lincoln’s presidency and actions concerning the compromises related to slavery.