Emancipation Proclamation

Definition

The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War that declared all enslaved people in Confederate-held territories to be free. It was a pivotal moment in the war that transformed the Union's goals from preserving the nation to abolishing slavery.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Lincoln on January 1, 1863, as the nation entered the third year of the Civil War.
2. The proclamation declared that all enslaved people in Confederate-held territories were to be considered free, though it did not apply to enslaved people in Union-held areas or border states.
3. The Emancipation Proclamation transformed the war from a conflict to preserve the Union into a struggle to end slavery, helping to rally anti-slavery sentiment in the North and internationally.
4. The proclamation allowed the Union to recruit African American soldiers, who played a crucial role in the war effort and the eventual Union victory.
5. The Emancipation Proclamation was a significant step towards the ratification of the 13th Amendment, which permanently abolished slavery in the United States.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Emancipation Proclamation changed the nature of the Civil War.
  • The Emancipation Proclamation transformed the Union's war aims from preserving the nation to abolishing slavery. It shifted the focus of the war, rallying anti-slavery sentiment in the North and internationally, and allowed the Union to recruit African American soldiers who played a crucial role in the eventual Union victory. The proclamation also set the stage for the ratification of the 13th Amendment, which permanently abolished slavery in the United States.
• Describe the legal and practical implications of the Emancipation Proclamation.
  • The Emancipation Proclamation declared all enslaved people in Confederate-held territories to be free, though it did not apply to enslaved people in Union-held areas or border states. This meant that the proclamation did not immediately free all enslaved people in the United States, but it did allow the Union to seize Confederate property, including enslaved people, under the Confiscation Acts. The proclamation also enabled the Union to recruit African American soldiers, who played a vital role in the war effort and the Union's triumph.
• Analyze the long-term impact of the Emancipation Proclamation on the course of the Civil War and the future of the United States.
  • The Emancipation Proclamation was a pivotal moment in the Civil War that had far-reaching consequences. By transforming the war's goals from preserving the Union to abolishing slavery, the proclamation helped to rally anti-slavery sentiment both in the North and internationally, strengthening the Union's resolve and undermining the Confederacy's support. The proclamation also allowed the Union to recruit African American soldiers, who made crucial contributions to the war effort. Furthermore, the Emancipation Proclamation set the stage for the ratification of the 13th Amendment, which permanently abolished slavery in the United States, marking a significant step towards the realization of the nation's founding ideals of liberty and equality for all.

Related terms

Abolitionism:

The movement to end slavery, led by prominent figures like William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass.

Contraband: Enslaved people who escaped to Union lines and were considered 'property' that had been seized from the Confederacy, rather than fugitive slaves.

Confiscation Acts: Laws passed by the U.S. Congress in 1861 and 1862 that allowed the Union to seize Confederate property, including enslaved people.