Emancipation Proclamation
Presidential order freeing slaves in Confederate states during the Civil War.
The Emancipation Proclamation was a presidential proclamation and executive order issued by United States president Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War. It changed the legal status of more than 3.5 million enslaved African Americans in the secessionist Confederate states from enslaved to free, and allowed former slaves to be received into the armed service of the United States.
- Issued by
- Abraham Lincoln
- Date issued
- January 1, 1863
- Type
- Presidential proclamation and executive order
- Preliminary version
- Proclamation 93, September 22, 1862
- Coverage
- Ten Confederate states still in rebellion
Lore & Background
On January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued the Final Emancipation Proclamation, which declared all slaves in rebel states to be free, applying to more than 3.5 million of the 4 million enslaved people in the country. The Proclamation also stated that such persons of suitable condition would be received into the armed service of the United States. The abolition of slavery became a Union war goal on January 1, 1863, when Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
Reader's Guide
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued under Lincoln's authority as Commander-in-Chief during the Civil War. It fundamentally shifted the war's purpose from preserving the Union to ending slavery. The Proclamation outraged white Southerners and their sympathizers, who saw it as the beginning of a race war. It energized abolitionists, undermined Europeans who wanted to intervene to help the Confederacy, and lifted the spirits of African Americans, both free and enslaved. It encouraged many to escape from slavery and flee toward Union lines, where many joined the Union Army. To ensure the abolition of slavery in all of the U.S., Lincoln pushed for passage of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery and was ratified on December 6, 1865.
Did You Know?
- The Emancipation Proclamation applied to more than 3.5 million of the 4 million enslaved people in the country.
- The Proclamation declared all slaves in rebel states to be free, but could not be enforced in areas still in rebellion.
- The abolition of slavery became a Union war goal on January 1, 1863, when Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
- The Proclamation allowed former slaves to be received into the armed service of the United States.
- The 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, was ratified on December 6, 1865.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Emancipation Proclamation?
It was a presidential proclamation and executive order that reclassified enslaved people in the Confederate states as free. It also permitted formerly enslaved individuals to enlist in the Union armed forces.
Who issued the Emancipation Proclamation?
President Abraham Lincoln issued it during the American Civil War. A preliminary version, known as Proclamation 93, had been released earlier that September as a warning to the secessionist states.
What did the Emancipation Proclamation actually change legally?
It shifted the legal status of over 3.5 million enslaved African Americans in the ten Confederate states still in rebellion from property to free persons. It did not, however, apply to border states that had remained loyal to the Union.
When was the Emancipation Proclamation signed?
The final version took effect on January 1, 1863. Lincoln had first issued a preliminary proclamation on September 22, 1862, giving the Confederate states a deadline to return to the Union.
Why is the Emancipation Proclamation historically significant?
It transformed the Civil War's purpose from merely preserving the Union to also fighting for human freedom. By tying emancipation to the war effort, it made slavery a central legal and military objective of the conflict.
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