The Emancipation Proclamation
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The Signing of the Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln during the third year of the Civil War. The document stated that as of January 1, 1863, all slaves in rebellious states in the south are hence forth declared freed.
Prior to this document, the reason for the Civil War was to preserve a Union nation instead of splitting it into north and south. By 1863, massive amounts of slaves escape the south and flocked to the north. This convinced Lincoln that the abolition of slavery had become an important key in the Civil War. By releasing this document, Lincoln changed the reason behind the Civil War. The war was now changed to a war against slavery. Many European nations, having already abolished slavery themselves, agree to give the North war supplies, for they wanted to back up the North against the southern slave owners. Furthermore, this document also allowed the acceptance of blacks into the Union Army. Consequently, by the end of the war, more than 200,000 black soldiers had fought for their hard earned freedom.
Prior to this document, the reason for the Civil War was to preserve a Union nation instead of splitting it into north and south. By 1863, massive amounts of slaves escape the south and flocked to the north. This convinced Lincoln that the abolition of slavery had become an important key in the Civil War. By releasing this document, Lincoln changed the reason behind the Civil War. The war was now changed to a war against slavery. Many European nations, having already abolished slavery themselves, agree to give the North war supplies, for they wanted to back up the North against the southern slave owners. Furthermore, this document also allowed the acceptance of blacks into the Union Army. Consequently, by the end of the war, more than 200,000 black soldiers had fought for their hard earned freedom.
The Importance of the Emancipation Proclamation
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Newspaper article on the Emancipation Proclamamtion
The Emancipation Proclamation was a pivotal point in the events of the Civil War. Without this document and sudden change to a "War against Slavery," who knows how long the war would've been drawn out? This document also helped progress the freedom of the blacks. This was the initial step into making a change for the blacks and for America. In addition, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation to show the seceded states that he was still in fact in charge and that his power still reach and affect them. Most importantly, this document allowed the Union to win the war because of the war supplies that came from Europe to support the war effort. Without it there might be two United States.