Emancipation_Proclamation

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1743

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Dec 6, 2023

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What Was the Emancipation Proclamation? The Emancipation Proclamation is an executive order that was issued by President Abraham Lincoln to go into effect on January 1, 1863. The presidential proclamation stated that ''all persons held as slaves ... shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.'' President Lincoln made the statement on September 22, 1862, three months prior to its date of effect; however, the proclamation only included the states that had seceded from the United States. The goals of the Emancipation Proclamation were to get more soldiers to fight for the Union army, limit the Confederate army's manpower, and provide a sense of morality to the purposes of the war. Contrary to popular belief, the Emancipation Proclamation was not intended to abolish slavery in the United States. Emancipation Proclamation Text The opening lines of the Emancipation Proclamation state, ''That on the first day in January, in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty two, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free;'' Lincoln issuing the Emancipation Proclamation is honored at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC Lincoln also issued within the Proclamation his recommendation ''that, in all cases when allowed, (the freed people) labor faithfully for reasonable wages,'' as well as including that ''such persons of suitable condition, will be received into the armed service of the United States to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places.''

Reasons for the Emancipation Proclamation It is interesting to figure out exactly why Lincoln did write the Emancipation Proclamation because there are many factors surrounding its publication. Some of the common criticism that surrounds the document is that its motives were not entirely pure, which ties into the reasons why it was issued in the first place. The American Civil War is predicated on histories of tension between the Northern and Southern states. The divide resulted in vastly different political beliefs, cultures, and even two separate economies. An intense feeling known as sectionalism arose where citizens felt more attached to their region rather than to the country. When Abraham Lincoln, who was from Illinois in the North, won the 1860 presidency, seven initial states declared their secession from the United States and formed what is known as the Confederacy. Five months later, in April of 1861, the Confederacy attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina, effectively beginning the Civil War. The main cause for the tensions and fighting between states was the institution of slavery and concerns that it would move into new lands to the west that had been gained during the Mexican-American War. When Fort Sumter was attacked, the states that had not seceded, most notably those known as the " border states ", had to decide which side they would fight for. During the first year of the Civil War, four more states joined the Confederacy, while Maryland, Missouri, and Kentucky adopted a Confederacy sympathy but remained with the Union. One of the first battles in 1861 was at Port Royale in South Carolina for control of the city of Charleston. The Union won this battle and was able to take control over the coast of South Carolina. A few months later, in April of 1862, the Union navy attacked two forts in New Orleans, forcing the surrender of Confederate troops. Taking control of New Orleans, and later the whole state of Mississippi, was a huge gain for the Union. Lincoln's Position Abraham Lincoln was personally opposed to slavery given his high moral consciousness, and when he spoke politically, he opposed each different facet of the institution of slavery. This is the message he ran his presidential race on and he maintained his personal resistance to slavery throughout his term. Given the severe nature of politics, Lincoln's message while he was president during the Civil War needed to be as diplomatic as possible. While he continued his personal opposition toward slavery, he did however proclaim that his priority as president was to ''save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery.'' Controversy and Debate There was controversy and much debate over the issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation, even within the Northern states that became the Union during the Civil War. One of the most common criticisms of the document was that Lincoln did not have the authority to issue it. In 1863, each individual state held the power to free its enslaved peoples (not the federal government). Additionally, abolitionists in the North argued that the document did not do enough to abolish slavery, as the border states were able to maintain their institutions of slavery. Similarly, a political group called

"Copperheads" (who were also known as Peace Democrats) opposed the Proclamation because they believed it would hinder attaining reconciliation and harmony between the regions. What Did the Emancipation Proclamation Do? When the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect, it did a number of things. The first was allowing Black men who had been enslaved to enlist in the Union army. This ruling helped establish Black people's right to citizenship in the United States. Secondly, the Emancipation Proclamation connected the fighting of the Civil War to the abolition of slavery. By doing this, Lincoln effectively blocked any of the countries in Europe from aiding the Confederacy because of its inherent support of slavery. The Proclamation, however, also did not accomplish a number of things. Abolishing slavery was not a goal of the Emancipation Proclamation; in fact, an enslaved person's freedom actually depended precariously on a Union victory. Another of the common criticisms toward the Proclamation was that the Union did not have the power to legally enforce it within the United States, as it does not state that slavery is illegal. While the public was reserved toward the Proclamation initially, which led to Republicans losing seats in Congress in 1863, it also renewed a sense of vigor and hope within the people. This hopefulness effectively changed the character of the war; from the date the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect, the Union was fighting for freedom. When Did the Emancipation Proclamation Go Into Effect? The Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863. However, it had been in the works for many months prior to this date. Abolitionists in the North had been calling on President Lincoln to abolish slavery for years prior to his initiation of the document in July of 1862. He presented a "preliminary proclamation" which he read to his administration, asking their advice on wording, but not opinion. Lincoln was advised to announce the Proclamation after a Union victory so as to unite the forces and supporters with a sense of fortitude. When the Union military declared victory at the Battle of Sharpsburg, Lincoln issued the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862. On January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued the Final Proclamation, claiming it was ''a necessary war measure.'' One of the justices of the Supreme Court, Roger B. Taney, agreed with the criticism that Lincoln did not have the authority to issue the Proclamation. Lincoln was not deterred and based his decision to issue to final document upon his belief in its ability to preserve the Union. Effects of the Emancipation Proclamation The issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation had many effects on the United States. It affected the fighting of the Civil War, had a large impact upon the institutions of slavery, and created a legacy within its own functions as to whether it worked or not. These unique effects are explained in more detail below.

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How Did the Emancipation Proclamation Affect the Civil War? When the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, the trajectory of the Union military's effort changed and grew. Although the war continued for another two and half years, the Union military now had around 200,000 more soldiers join the ranks, which provided a major boost to morale. Similarly, the document gave the soldiers and sailors a greater strength to their fighting as they were now fighting for the solidified cause of freedom, a key American ideal. Impact on Slavery The Emancipation Proclamation did not make slavery illegal, nor did it include all of the states. It only demanded freedom for enslaved peoples from the states that had not already returned to the United States after seceding. This did not include Delaware, Missouri, Kentucky, or Maryland. Therefore, the Proclamation would only affect an enslaved person from a place like Virginia, not New Orleans, Boston, or New York. The Emancipation Proclamation helped enact the abolition of slavery Approximately 20,000 enslaved peoples were freed from slavery because of the Emancipation Proclamation, and the document is among the greatest in the United States pertaining to human freedoms. Did the Emancipation Proclamation Work? Reflecting back on the intended goals of the Proclamation helps to determine whether it worked or not.  Lincoln wanted to increase the number of troops in the Union military -- Successful!

 One of the goals was to increase morale for the effort of fighting by establishing a central purpose -- Successful!  Lincoln also wanted to reduce the Confederacy's military power and prevent any countries overseas from joining the effort -- Successful! Emancipation Proclamation: Importance The Emancipation Proclamation is one of the most important historical documents in the United States. The Emancipation Proclamation is considered one of the most important documents produced in the United States It was one of the first steps of abolishing slavery in the country and also crucial in helping the Union win the Civil War. Lesson Summary The Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863, by President Abraham Lincoln and granted freedom to enslaved peoples in ten states.  It was issued during the American Civil War and helped allow the Union to win the war.  While it did not make slavery illegal and there was criticism surrounding the document, its existence brought on the abolition of slavery in 1865.  The Emancipation Proclamation is one of the most important documents in the history of the United States.

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