What Was The Emancipation Proclamation

Lincoln decided to issue the Emancipation Proclamation because he needed to turn the battle into a moral issue rather than just trying to win back the states lost from the Union. It is known that the North had lost many battles and needed men to fight for the Union. So, Lincoln justified the emancipation to liberate slaves, which give them the chance to fight for the Union. This was proven to be successful, as 200,000 black men joined the Union to fight the confederacy. Moral of the Union was also low, and the Emancipation Proclamation provided the needed public support to help the Union to continue to fight the war. Also, this was done to prevent European forces from recognizing the Confederacy as its own Nation, thus preventing any possible

Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was the most influential part of his presidency as it expanded the goals of the Civil War and abolished slavery. The original focus of the Civil war was not to abolish slavery but to preserve the Union Army. Following the Union Army’s win at war and the abolition of slavery, black people were now allowed to join this army. Following Lincoln’s speech, the 13th amendment was put into place by making slavery illegal. It is evident that the Emancipation Proclamation was the most influential and powerful part of Lincoln’s presidency.

The Emancipation Proclamation helped the Union’s cause because it encouraged African Americans to fight to obtain and maintain their freedom. Once the free and slave men were allowed to participate in the war against the Confederacy it gave the Union the additional power and the ability to win the war

When the Civil War began in 1861, the issue of slavery was not the central focus of the war effort on the side of the Union. While it was still important to many in the North, the main war aim of the Union side was to preserve the Union and make sure it remained intact. As the war dragged on and more soldiers died on both sides, Lincoln realized he would need to entirely cripple the already weak Confederate economy, and he did this by making the Emancipation Proclamation, which became effective January 1, 1863. This executive order stated that all slaves in states currently in open rebellion against the United States were free from slavery. By doing this, he caused African Americans in slave states to cross into Union territory and into

Slavery was a crucial issue on the Union 's diplomatic front with Britain. Lincoln realized that he could use emancipation as a weapon of war as the war was now primarily being fought over slavery. He also wanted to satisfy his own personal hope that everyone everywhere would eventually be free. So in June 1862, Congress passed a law prohibiting slavery in the territories. Lincoln issued the final form of his Emancipation Proclamation (Document F). It stated, “slaves within any State...shall be then, thencefoward, and forever free.” The proclamation had a powerful symbolic effect. It broadened the base of the war by turning it in to a fight for unity.

However, since the confederacy was still a part of the United States Lincoln used the Emancipation Proclamation hoping that the South would end their ongoing war against the federal government. The North did not agree with the Emancipation Proclamation but still joined Lincoln because they wanted the same thing Lincoln wanted which was the south to reunite with the Union. Since the confederacy did not obey the government, Lincoln put his words into action by freeing all slaves who were in the rebellious states. Issuing this document also insured that Britain and France would not join forces with the Confederate Union especially since they were against slavery. Freeing the slaves gave the union an upper hand, because they came to the north and fought against the confederacy. It was, however, illegal to have blacks fight in the army so Lincoln fought to have them employed into the army. This gave hope to all slaves who were seeking freedom and one day becoming an American

As Mr. Douglass stated in the October 1862 issue of his newspaper, “The effect of this paper...changes the character of the war in European eyes and gives it an important principle...instead of national pride and interest” (Dudley 167). This quote shows that the Emancipation Proclamation would open the eyes of European nations and show them that the Union and Confederacy are not fighting because they had a simple disagreement and are being petty, but rather that they are passionately fighting for what they each believe to be righteous. Changing the views of a foreign nation is not something that could be done with a “worthless act” that people like Mr. Vallandigham believed the Emancipation Proclamation to be. Another statement made by Mr. Douglass goes to show how the Proclamation would have affected the war greatly. As Mr. Douglass states, “It will disarm all purpose on the part of European Government to intervene in favor of the rebels and thus cast off... one source of rebel power” (Dudley 167). Mr. Vallandigham then states in his speech however that “Of what possible avail was his proclamation of September? Did the South submit? Was she even alarmed?” (Dudley 169). One should see that Mr. Douglass’ statement disproves Mr. Vallandigham’s because the South would indeed be alarmed by the Proclamation due to its

"Without slavery, the rebellion could never have existed. Without slavery, it could not continue” (Lincoln). The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 marked the most decisive points of the Civil War, and of American history as a whole. With the stroke of his pen, Lincoln expanded the powers of the president, redefined the Unions goals in the civil war, and fortified the Republicans moral base and prominence for years to come, while rekindling morale for the Union soldiers.

While in office, President Abraham Lincoln led the country through the Civil War, he is most known as being responsible for the abolishing of slavery through the Emancipation Proclamation, thus giving him the nickname of “The Great Emancipator.” Technically speaking, the Emancipation Declaration did not actually abolish slavery in itself, rather it led to the 13th Amendment, which did end slavery in January of 1865. At brief glance, the Emancipation Proclamation’s sole purpose appears to be a humanitarian effort towards the abolishment of slavery. However there were two factors to consider that can be contradictory; the first being that Lincoln wasn’t particularly fond of black people to start with; the second, is the military advantage that would present itself if the succeeded states lost ownership of their slaves.

During his election campaign and throughout the early years of the Civil War, Lincoln vehemently denied the rumour that he would mount an attack on slavery. At the outbreak of fighting, he pledged to 'restore the Union, but accept slavery where it existed ', with Congress supporting his position via the Crittendon-Johnson Resolutions. However, during 1862 Lincoln was persuaded for a number of reasons that Negro emancipation as a war measure was both essential and sound. Public opinion seemed to be going that way, Negro slaves were helping the Southern war effort, and a string of defeats had left Northern morale low. A new moral boost to the cause might give weary Union soldiers added impetus in the fight. Furthermore, if the Union fought against slavery, Britain and France could not help the other side, since their 'peculiar institution ' was largely abhorred in both European nations. Having eased the American public into the idea, through speeches that hinted at emancipation, Lincoln finally signed the Proclamation on January 1st 1863, releasing all slaves behind rebel lines. Critics argued that the proclamation went little further than the Second Confiscation Act and it conveniently failed to release prisoners behind Union lines. Nevertheless, Henry Adams summed up public reaction to the Proclamation as an 'almost convulsive reaction in our favour '.

President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1st in 1863 announcing that all people held as slaves shall be free. Lincoln hoped to inspire all blacks and slaves in the Confederacy even though the proclamation was limited in many ways. It applied only to states that had seceded from the Union, leaving slavery untouched in the loyal border states. While the freedom was promised depended upon the Union military victory. The Emancipation Proclamation did not end slavery in the nation but shaped the reasoning for war. Approximately 200,000 black soldiers and sailors had fought for freedom and the Union. This confirmed the battle a war for freedom. For all that the Emancipation Proclamation did for freedom, it is now taken place among the great documents of human freedom.

On September 22, 1862, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, issued the first, or preliminary, Emancipation Proclamation. In this document he warned that unless the states of the Confederacy returned to the Union by January 1, 1863, he would declare their slaves to be “forever free.” During the Civil War, he was fighting to save the Union and trying not to free the slaves. Lincoln was quoted to say, “I am not, nor have ever been in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races.” The Emancipation Proclamation illustrated this view.

Lincoln thought freeing slaves would help him reach his goals to save the Union. Therefor, this led to the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Although, the Emancipation Proclamation only freed slaves in the Confederate States in America, it was the first step in the final Emancipation of all slaves. It helped the cause of the Civil War, and was close to end slavery permanently. It was the third year into the Civil War, once the form was signed, the number of group soldiers for the Civil War and navy increased. This was because what Lincoln hoped would happen did happen. Although, the liberation of slaves allowed many slaves to volunteer and to fight in the Civil War. At that point the Civil War became a war for freedom. The result of the War was positive. The Union was saved but also the War helped free slaves.

War efforts shift gears from bringing the union back to abolishing slavery after Lincoln witnessed terrible treatment given to African Americans. The emancipation proclamation announced “…all slaves in rebellious states henceforward shall be free (Wills).” Lincoln did not want to upset the South from ever returning to the Union, but his conscious told him something had to be done about slavery before preserving the union could be achieved (Wills).

The emancipation proclamation was an order signed by president Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War in attempt to abolish slavery in the ten rebellion states in the confederacy. The order took effect on January 1, 1863 in attempts to free more than 3.5 million slaves in the confederate area where they rebelled against the Union, and to maintain apprehended freedom between the newly freed slaves and the federal government and military. This was a turning point in the Civil war as Abraham lincoln changed the focal point of the war from secession to slavery, which the South [Jefferson Davis] didn’t want to occur, in fear of losing foreign allies, such as anti-slavery Great Britain. The North really increased their chances of