“All persons held as slaves…are, and henceforward shall be free” – Abraham Lincoln.
These famous words made their appearance in America’s history in Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation was a document issued by Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863 during the third year of the Civil War. (“The Emancipation Proclamation.” Featured Documents) Lincoln drafted and released the Emancipation Proclamation at the right time during the war and ensured that its impact on the efforts made by the Union were positive, while also redefining the purpose of the war. (“Emancipation Proclamation.” History Net) Lincoln knew that the Emancipation Proclamation wouldn’t free all African Americans who were held as slaves, but that it would instead free the slaves that were being held in the rebel states. (“Emancipation Proclamation.” History Net)
The Emancipation Proclamation has been referred to as a symbol of equality between the white man and slaves. It was also known as the stepping stone for equality for slaves. In the Emancipation Proclamation, Abraham Lincoln addressed the unfair treatment that slaves had endured over the years. The Emancipation Proclamation, in its entirety, showed everyone that everyone should be treated as human beings, regardless of the color of their skin. Because the Emancipation Proclamation challenged the ideas of slavery, it helped define and form the nation.
After Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, slaves had gained their freedom within the rebel states. In addition to the slaves gaining their freedom, they also benefited from the Emancipation Proclamation in three ways. The first being that the Emancipation Proclamation had declared that slaves within the rebel states were free and provided them with the support of the United States Government. The second being that it declared that freed slaves be paid a wage and urged freed slaves to abstain from violence and self-defense. The third being that it declared that all freed men would be accepted into the armed services to fight in the war. This was the start of the effects that the Emancipation Proclamation would have on the future of America and the impact that it would make in American history. (“Emancipation Proclamation.” History Net)
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by Lincoln as a war measure and the most significant effect that it had made was that for the first time it would place the United States government against slavery. This bold move made by Lincoln came days after the Union had won the Battle of Antietam. Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation with the hopes that it would inspire all African Americans, as well as slaves in the Confederacy, to support the Union cause and to prevent England and France from aiding the Confederacy and giving them political recognition. By issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln placed a barrier between the South and the recognition that it had acquired by European nations that had prohibited slavery. There were several articles within the Confederate States Constitution that protected slavery within the Confederacy, but there were also articles within the United States Constitution that protected slavery as well. The Emancipation Proclamation helped in drawing a clear distinction between the Confederate States Constitution and the United States Constitution. (“Emancipation Proclamation.” History Net)
After January 1, 1863, every advance made by Federal troops helped expand the domain of freedom and announced the acceptance of African Americans into the Union Army and the Navy, which would enable the liberated to become liberators. The Emancipation Proclamation added reassurance of the slaves’ diligence that the war must become a war for freedom for slaves. The Emancipation Proclamation also added moral force to the Union cause, while also strengthening the Union both politically and militarily. By doing so, the Emancipation Proclamation would make its way into being considered another one of the greatest documents of human freedom. (Emancipation Proclamation, January 1, 1863)
As a result of the Emancipation Proclamation, freed slaves from the rebel states were allowed to join the Union Army. By February 1865, Union troops had marched into the Confederacy and began setting slaves free. As Union troops were freeing the slaves, approximately 200,000 slaves had volunteered to join the fight against their former masters. The Emancipation Proclamation declared that the slaves that had managed to escape from their masters and fight with the Union army would no longer have to be returned to their masters due to the fact that they were “thenceforward, and forever free.”( “Emancipation Proclamation.” History Net) In the end, the Emancipation Proclamation publicly declared that all suitable freed men would be accepted into the armed forces to fight in the war. After the Emancipation Proclamation, an estimated 180,000 freed slaves went on to serve in the army, while approximately 18,000 joined the navy.
In conclusion, the Emancipation Proclamation served as an important key in American history. Although it did not free all slaves, it was able to capture the hearts of millions by being a symbol of equality, while also freeing the slaves in rebel states and allowing freed slaves to join the Union Army. The Emancipation Proclamation managed to give all African Americans held as slaves hope that they will soon be free. (“The Emancipation Proclamation.” Featured Documents)