Emancipation proclamation
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation (/ɪˌmænsɪˈpeɪʃən proʊkləˈmeɪʃən/) was a presidential proclamation and executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. It changed the federal legal status of more than 3.5 million enslaved African Americans in the designated areas of the South from slave to free.
Etymology
The term "Emancipation Proclamation" is derived from the Latin words 'emancipatio' meaning 'to set free' and 'proclamatio' meaning 'to proclaim'.
Background
During the American Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation was a significant step towards abolishing slavery and establishing the freedom of slaves in the United States. It was limited in many ways, it applied only to states that had seceded from the United States, leaving slavery untouched in the loyal border states. It also expressly exempted parts of the Confederacy that had already come under Northern control. Most importantly, the freedom it promised depended upon Union military victory.
Impact
Although the Emancipation Proclamation did not end slavery in the nation, it captured the hearts and imagination of millions of Americans and fundamentally transformed the character of the war. After January 1, 1863, every advance of federal troops expanded the domain of freedom. Moreover, the Proclamation announced the acceptance of black men into the Union Army and Navy, enabling the liberated to become liberators. By the end of the war, almost 200,000 black soldiers and sailors had fought for the Union and freedom.
Related Terms
- Abraham Lincoln
- American Civil War
- Slavery in the United States
- Union Army
- Confederate States of America
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